GUWAHATI: Tumni Village Panchayat president Azizur Rahman Ahmed Feeling fourth time lucky when his wife gave birth to a baby boy after three daughters about three months ago.
But he ran into trouble after the elected representative of the panchayat in Dakshin Salmara Mankachar district violated the two-child policy. Based on complaints from other elected members of his gram panchayat, Ahmed has lost his chairpersonship for violating a policy implemented by the state government in 2018, when the last panchayat elections were held in Assam.
Gram Panchayat Vice President Mohd. freeze Begum was also found guilty of violating the two-child rule and was removed. Afroza was doubly happy giving birth to a third child. But his happiness was short-lived.
“We received complaints that both the President and the Vice President violated the policy. As per the recommendation of the District Deputy Commissioner, both have been removed from their respective posts. The deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the zilla parishad will be in charge till the next election,” Fazlur Rehman Laskar, CEO of the district’s zilla parishad, told TOI on Monday.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), of which both are members, could not come to their rescue. “When someone has violated the rule, our party cannot raise voice for them. However, they will continue to be members of our party,” said AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam.
Ahmed is in his 40s, while Afroza is in his 30s. Ahmed had three daughters when he contested the last rural election in December 2018, but as per the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 and the Assam Panchayat (Constitution) (Amendment) Rules, 2018, it was permitted at that time. The rules state that a chairperson can contest elections if the vice-chairman or member of a gram panchayat has two or more children before the amended Act came into force on March 19, 2018, but if after the coming into force of the Act After another child is born, he or she will be removed from office.
“The issue was also taken up with the state panchayat minister Ranjit Das Who directed the officials to take prompt action against the two shahjahan aliSecretary of Tumni Village Panchayat.
Officials said the duo had submitted an affidavit to comply with the rule, but it was flouted. “Ahmed’s wife delivered a baby boy at a hospital in Goalpara, while Afroza gave birth to her third child in the district. Ali said the allegations were found to be true after an inquiry by the district authorities.
Sources said several incidents of such violations have reportedly taken place in the Panchayat department but have not yet been brought to the notice of the concerned people.
But he ran into trouble after the elected representative of the panchayat in Dakshin Salmara Mankachar district violated the two-child policy. Based on complaints from other elected members of his gram panchayat, Ahmed has lost his chairpersonship for violating a policy implemented by the state government in 2018, when the last panchayat elections were held in Assam.
Gram Panchayat Vice President Mohd. freeze Begum was also found guilty of violating the two-child rule and was removed. Afroza was doubly happy giving birth to a third child. But his happiness was short-lived.
“We received complaints that both the President and the Vice President violated the policy. As per the recommendation of the District Deputy Commissioner, both have been removed from their respective posts. The deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of the zilla parishad will be in charge till the next election,” Fazlur Rehman Laskar, CEO of the district’s zilla parishad, told TOI on Monday.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), of which both are members, could not come to their rescue. “When someone has violated the rule, our party cannot raise voice for them. However, they will continue to be members of our party,” said AIUDF general secretary Aminul Islam.
Ahmed is in his 40s, while Afroza is in his 30s. Ahmed had three daughters when he contested the last rural election in December 2018, but as per the Assam Panchayat Act, 1994 and the Assam Panchayat (Constitution) (Amendment) Rules, 2018, it was permitted at that time. The rules state that a chairperson can contest elections if the vice-chairman or member of a gram panchayat has two or more children before the amended Act came into force on March 19, 2018, but if after the coming into force of the Act After another child is born, he or she will be removed from office.
“The issue was also taken up with the state panchayat minister Ranjit Das Who directed the officials to take prompt action against the two shahjahan aliSecretary of Tumni Village Panchayat.
Officials said the duo had submitted an affidavit to comply with the rule, but it was flouted. “Ahmed’s wife delivered a baby boy at a hospital in Goalpara, while Afroza gave birth to her third child in the district. Ali said the allegations were found to be true after an inquiry by the district authorities.
Sources said several incidents of such violations have reportedly taken place in the Panchayat department but have not yet been brought to the notice of the concerned people.