Polls for TP posts in DK held before final notification

Bureaucrats in Dakshina Kannada district have committed a faux pas by conducting elections to the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of Taluk Panchayats, even before the final notification on reservation list.

The government issued the final notification on June 18. But, the election procedure was completed in all TPs and the new chiefs had already taken charge. Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim is also the district election officer. The assistants commissioners of Mangalore and Puttur sub-divisions conducted the elections in the TPs in their jurisdictions. 

The first notification regarding the elections to TP posts in the State was issued by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) on April 16. The notification, with the tentative reservation list, was open for public to file objections.

On June 18, the department published the final notification, making certain changes in the reservation list. The faux pas is more serious as there is a change in the reservation between the first and final notifications.

The election was conducted as per the directions of Ibrahim, who in all probability ‘mistook’ the first notification as final. But, the negligence on the part of other bureaucrats too is evident. RDPR Secretary Gangaram Baderia and RDPR Principal Secretary T M Vijaybhaskar told this reporter that they were not aware of the case. DH News Service