Recover ₹20K from suspended official: SHRC to govt

Recover ₹20K from suspended official: SHRC to govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:08.06.2021

The state human rights commission (SHRC) has recommended to recover ₹20,000 from a suspended panchayat secretary in Tenkasi district who had cheated two women of their money after assuring them to get a job as a sweeper and for granting building permission respectively.

SHRC made these recommendations in the petitions filed by P Sundarammal and V Mariammal, residents of Kuvalaikkanni village complaining about Murugan, secretary of the panchayat.

According to Sundarammal, she had paid ₹11,000 to Murugan for appointment to the post of sweeper. Though she was appointed as a sweeper and worked for more than a year, salary was not paid to her. Since no steps were taken on her representation to the district administration officials, she had filed the petition before the SHRC.

Similarly, Mariammal had paid ₹20,000 and ₹1.2 lakh on two occasions to Murugan for getting building permission and for allotment of a group house. Since Murugan did not take steps and failed to return the money, she moved the SHRC.

In his counter affidavit, Murugan denied all the allegations by both women. However, the Tenkasi district collector had submitted a report stating that an inquiry was conducted and Murugan was placed under suspension. During the pendency of the inquiry, Murugan had returned the money to both the women.

Taking into account the submissions, SHRC member A Chittaranjan Mohandoss said that based on the report of the collector, it is clear that Sundarammal was appointed as a sweeper by Murugan in his personal capacity without any appointment order. Salary of ₹45,000 was also paid to her without any records after she had made a complaint to the commission.

The commission said that it indicates that Murugan, by abusing his position as a public servant, had obtained money from both the women.