GP member disqualified for assaulting PDO

Koppal: State Govt has disqualified a sitting member of the Hiremyageri gram panchayat in Yelburga taluk, under provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act, after charges of assaulting a govt employee on duty were proved. The govt order cancelled the membership of Shantamma Bandivaddar, a current member of the gram panchayat, and barred her from contesting elections for the next six years. Her term had only two months remaining.

According to officials, the action followed a complaint filed by PDO Ratnamma Gundannavar at Yelburga police station on Feb 22, 2025. In the complaint, the PDO alleged that Shantamma, accompanied by her son Bhimesh, suddenly entered the gram panchayat office while discussions were underway regarding beneficiaries under the PMAY housing scheme and assaulted her, besides issuing death threats.

After conducting an inquiry under various legal provisions, and the allegations were reportedly found to be true. Officials said the accused member failed to submit convincing evidence to disprove the charges. Based on the findings, the govt disqualified her from holding the post and barred her from contesting elections for six years under the Panchayat Raj Act.