To curb corruption within the panchayats, the administration in Sarangarh, Chhattisgarh, has adopted a stringent approach. The former secretary of Bhawanpur Gram Panchayat has been sentenced to 30 days in civil jail for not remitting the outstanding dues. Furthermore, arrest warrants have been issued against other secretaries and Sarpanchs found to be in arrears.
The Sub-Divisional Officer, IAS Prakhar Chandrakar, is overseeing legal proceedings against numerous secretaries and Sarpanchs for non-payment of dues related to construction projects. As a result, Alok Thawait, the ex-secretary of Gram Panchayat Bhawanpur, was incarcerated for failing to deposit ₹11,95,790. Arrest warrants have also been issued to the secretaries and Sarpanchs of Gram Panchayats Ganjaibhauna, Godihori, Reda, Amalipali B, Jildi, and other panchayats.
Some panchayats have made partial payments, but have been warned of imprisonment if the remaining amounts are not settled. The administration’s strict measures are intended to send a strong message to other panchayat employees involved in corrupt practices, emphasizing that failure to clear outstanding dues could result in asset seizure and imprisonment.
Civil jail allows courts to detain a debtor to ensure debt repayment, often via property seizure or requiring labor. Civil jail focuses on debt repayment, whereas criminal jail is for individuals convicted of criminal activities, where the punishment is imprisonment.