Deputy Commissioner of Garhwa, Shekhar Jamuar, has suspended the Panchayat Secretary of Halivantakala for irregularities in the selection of beneficiaries for the Abua Awas Yojana. Furthermore, a recommendation has been submitted to the Panchayat Raj Department of Jharkhand to revoke the financial authority of the Mukhiya (village head) of the same panchayat.
This action follows an investigation into Panchayat Secretary Nand Kumar Mehta's selection of ineligible beneficiaries in Halivantakala Panchayat, Nagar Untari Block, during the 2024-2025 financial year. Mehta was requested to provide an explanation on 26 March 2025, but failed to respond within a month. This is considered a disregard for senior officials' instructions, as well as the submission of false reports that resulted in ineligible beneficiaries receiving housing benefits, indicating misuse of government funds and serious negligence.
As a result, District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Jamuar has suspended Panchayat Secretary Nand Kumar Mehta with immediate effect due to the alleged irregularities. Mehta's designated headquarters during his suspension will be Block-Katar. He will receive a subsistence allowance during this period, and departmental proceedings will be initiated against him.
In addition, an investigation by a district-level inquiry team into the alleged involvement of Halivantakala Gram Panchayat Mukhiya Savita Devi in granting benefits to ineligible individuals under the Abua Awas Yojana revealed that individuals and families already benefiting from other housing schemes were selected and approved under the Abua Awas Yojana.
Savita Devi was asked to provide an explanation, but her response was deemed unsatisfactory.
The DC has forwarded the Mukhiya's explanation, along with a recommendation to the Panchayati Raj Department to revoke her financial powers.
A random physical verification of 12 houses approved under the Abua Awas Yojana in Gram Panchayat Halivantakala by the district-level inquiry team revealed inconsistencies in the selection of beneficiaries. It was discovered that the Mukhiya had recommended the approval of Abua Awas and the release of the first instalment of funds to ineligible beneficiaries. It appears that a lack of thorough supervision led to the selection of ineligible beneficiaries and the release of funds at the panchayat level, which is not in compliance with regulations.
The Abua Awas Yojana is an important government initiative that requires ongoing monitoring at the block level.
In light of these findings, directives have been issued to ensure the complete recovery of funds disbursed to ineligible beneficiaries within one week, along with a request for an explanation as to why disciplinary action should not be taken for the negligence displayed.
