Local Government Department (LSGD) chief director H. Dineshan on Saturday suspended two panchayat officials after serious lapses in project implementation were revealed in Munnar panchayat. The suspended officials have been identified as Munnar panchayat secretary GP Udayakumar and assistant secretary Manish Dev. The suspension followed an inspection by the Joint Director of LSGD, which was initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by Munnar residents Riyaz R. and Muhammed Ahraham. The inspection revealed serious irregularities in the implementation of the panchayat project. According to the suspension order, the secretary and assistant secretary have committed serious misconduct related to the renovation work of the panchayat-owned crematorium. Specifically, deficiencies were identified regarding the handover to the private agency Glow Green Engineering. The order further stated that malpractices were found in the distribution of wellies and gloves to MNREGS workers in the panchayat. Due to non-procedural procurement, the panchayat officials caused a loss of ₹15,66,085, an amount to be refunded to the in-charge secretary. The order also revealed irregularities in the distribution of laptops for SC and general categories in the panchayat. The investigation revealed that officials had prepared a fake list of beneficiaries to facilitate large-scale bribes. The investigators found that the laptops were distributed to 26 individuals in the general category and 17 in the SC category who were not included in the original approved list. Further, the order stated that the funds meant for the SC category were misappropriated. Officials also failed to ensure proper waste management in the panchayat and indulged in malpractices under the guise of waste management initiatives.
Published – 16 May 2026 21:31 IST
