Karnataka: Panchayat Officer Ramegowda KN suspended following employee suicide in Chamarajanagar

Chamarajanagar (Karnataka) [India] October 18 (ANI): Ramegowda KN, In-Charge Panchayat Development Officer of Honganur Gram Panchayat (originally Kempanapur Gram Panchayat) in Chamarajanagar district, has been placed under suspension following the suicide of a Gram Panchayat employee.
The incident occurred when Chikkusanayaka, a former Panchayat employee working as a waterman in Honganur Gram Panchayat, was found hanging from a window in the Panchayat building.
A death note left by Chikkusanayaka cited non-payment of honorarium for approximately 27 months and alleged harassment by the Panchayat Development Officer and the husband of the Gram Panchayat Chairperson.
In the note, the deceased described the situation as making life "difficult to live."
Following the incident, a first information report (FIR) was registered at Chamarajanagar East Police Station, citing violations under the Indian Penal Code, 2023 and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Based on the investigation, Ramegowda KN, In-Charge Panchayat Development Officer, was found to have failed in performing duties mandated under Section 111 of the Karnataka Gramswaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993.
The inquiry report also noted dereliction of duty and violation of Rule 3(i)(ii) and (iii) of the Karnataka Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1966.
Exercising powers under Rule 10(1)(d) of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957, Ramegowda KN has ordered the departmental inquiry against the officer to continue under suspension until further orders.
The suspended officer is barred from leaving the workplace without prior permission and will receive subsistence allowance in accordance with Karnataka Civil Service Rule 98 during the suspension period.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R Ashok, criticised the Congress government, accusing it of "bankrupting" the state and squeezing resources to serve its "political game."
R Ashok's remarks came after the Karnataka State Contractors Association threatened to go on strike over pending bills worth Rs 3,300 crore.
In a post on X, R Ashok said, "Mr. @RahulGandhi, is this your so-called "Karnataka Model"? Under the corrupt and exploitative #ATMSarkara, Karnataka has gone bankrupt. Contractors are demanding ₹33,000 CRORE in unpaid dues from eight government departments! From irrigation to housing, from PWD to labour - every department is choking because CM @siddaramaiah and DCM @DKShivakumar have squeezed the state coffers dry to save their chairs and fund their political games."
R Ashok highlighted the state government's "arrogance and silence" over several pressing issues and stated that the Congress government is for "collection, commission, and corruption. (ANI)