Disqualification of Thirumathi J. Jeya, President, Pallapatty Panchayat, Nilakkottai Panchayat Union, Dindigul District under Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act

What the notification does

G.O. Ms. No. 85, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (PR4), dated 5th August 2009, is a notification of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department concerning the elected President of Pallapatty Panchayat in Nilakkottai Panchayat Union, Dindigul District. It records the Governor of Tamil Nadu's decision that Thirumathi J. Jeya became disqualified from holding the office of President with effect from 5th August 2009.

The decision was made under the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. It remained subject to the outcome of W.P. 1654/08, which Thirumathi J. Jeya had filed and which was pending before the High Court, Madras.

Why the President was disqualified

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department states that Pallapatty Panchayat's President post was reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman. Thirumathi J. Jeya was elected after stating that she belonged to the Scheduled Caste community.

Key findings recorded in the notification are:

• The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission was asked for its opinion on her disqualification.
• The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission conducted an enquiry.
• The Hindu Scheduled Caste certificate issued to her by the Tahsildar, Nilakkottai, on 10th September 2005 was cancelled by proceedings of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Dindigul, dated 16th February 2008.
• The certificate was cancelled because it was found to be false.
• The Tamil Nadu State Election Commission concluded that she was disqualified from continuing as President.
• The Governor found that she did not belong to the Scheduled Caste community although she had been elected from a seat reserved for a Scheduled Caste woman.

Who is affected

G.O. Ms. No. 85 directly concerns Thirumathi J. Jeya and the office of President of Pallapatty Panchayat, Nilakkottai Panchayat Union, Dindigul District. It also records the roles of the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, the Tahsildar at Nilakkottai and the Revenue Divisional Officer at Dindigul in the enquiry and certificate cancellation.

Relevance to land and property

G.O. Ms. No. 85 does not set out any land classification, ownership, registration, planning or development rule. A property buyer or owner is not given any new land related obligation by this notification. Its stated purpose is the disqualification of a particular panchayat president from elected office.