Kupwara Panchayat secretary suspended; salaries of 21 BDOs withheld over alleged MGNREGA irregularities

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara, May 18: The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department in Kupwara has initiated disciplinary action against several officials over alleged irregularities and poor performance in implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the district.

According to an order issued by the Office of the Assistant Commissioner Development Kupwara, a Panchayat Secretary has been placed under suspension pending a detailed departmental enquiry into alleged deliberate omission and non-uploading of Gram Sabha-approved works under MGNREGA in Panchayat Halmatpora-C of Block Kupwara.

The enquiry committee, constituted following complaints from the Panchayat, reportedly found that nearly 200 works duly approved in Gram Sabha proceedings and recorded in the Karwayi Register were allegedly not forwarded for inclusion in the official MGNREGA plan by the then Panchayat Secretary, identified as Irfan Ahmad Khan.

The committee observed that the omission of works appeared deliberate and selective, allegedly depriving several beneficiaries of developmental works under the scheme. The order further stated that certain works linked to selected individuals were prioritised while works concerning other areas and beneficiaries were excluded, reflecting alleged favouritism, discrimination and misuse of official authority.

Pending completion of the enquiry, the official, presently posted in Block Sogam, has been suspended with immediate effect and attached with the Office of the Assistant Commissioner Development Kupwara.

In a separate order, the department, as per Alfaaz – The Words, also withheld salaries and honorarium of at least twenty-one Block Development Officers (BDOs), Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and field functionaries over “extremely poor and unsatisfactory” performance under MGNREGA during the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27.

The order stated that despite repeated instructions, review meetings and monitoring, several blocks failed to achieve assigned labour budget and person-day generation targets, adversely affecting overall district performance.

The department cited gross negligence, lack of seriousness, non-compliance with official duties and failure of supervision and field-level monitoring as reasons behind the action.

The salaries of BDOs heading Drugmulla, Handwara, Qaziabad, Kralpora, Kupwara, Hyhama, Langate, Kalaroose, Machil, Wavoora, Sogam, Keran, Meelyal, Rajwar, Mawer, Magam, Ramhal, Tarathpora, Tangdar, Teetwal and Trehgam blocks have been withheld till further orders.

Authorities have directed all concerned officers to ensure substantial improvement in implementation and warned that stricter disciplinary action, including attachment and termination recommendations against defaulting officials, may follow in case of continued poor performance.