The Supreme Court has overturned the removal of a woman sarpanch from a village in Maharashtra, criticizing the casual manner in which her ousting was handled, particularly highlighting the challenges faced by women in political roles in rural areas.
Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, presiding over the case, expressed concern over the discriminatory treatment of Manisha Ravindra Panpatil, the elected sarpanch of Vichkheda, Jalgaon district. The bench described the situation as a stark example of the villagers’ inability to accept a woman in a decision-making role, which reflected broader issues of gender bias in rural governance.
The Supreme Court noted that the allegations leading to Panpatil’s removal were based on unverified claims that she resided on government land. These assertions were not properly investigated by the local authorities, who disqualified her based on “bald statements.” The bench criticized the government’s actions as hasty and without substantial fact-checking, emphasizing that such decisions should not be made lightly, especially when they affect women who have overcome significant hurdles to serve in public office.
The decision to dismiss Panpatil was initially ratified by the divisional commissioner and later upheld by the Bombay High Court on technical grounds. However, the Supreme Court found no credible evidence to support the claims of encroachment, and it voiced concerns over the systemic prejudicial treatment that appears to permeate through various levels of administrative functioning.
