Recommendations burden ZP over appointment of 65 administrators

Aurangabad, Sept 24:

The Zilla Parishad (ZP) chief executive officer Mangesh Gondavale appointed administrators on 546 gram panchayats (GPs), out of 865, after their official term ended and the elections were not held due to Covid-19 pandemic situation in the district. However, the ZP''s panchayat section was forced to make a fresh proposal of appointing 65 new administrators after the officials appointed previously claimed to be suffering from severe illness or are on the verge of retirement. The panchayat section officials, however, had a tough time in finalising the above fresh list as a large number of public representatives recommended their candidates should be appointed at the gram panchayat of choice, said the sources.

Earlier, the state government had ordered the ZP administration to consult with the guardian minister, in connection with the appointment of administrators on GPs, whose term had been ended and there was no possibility of holding elections, due to pandemic situation. Accordingly, the ZP administration appointed their extension officers, centre-heads, sectional engineers and headmasters as administrators. Taking advantage of the situation, two sectional engineers, sought their appointment, at the GPs where the complaints against them were pending. Later on, the panchayat section had a tough time in considering the recommendations.

According to sources, the section received a large number of recommendations without signatures for the appointment of administrators on GPs in Soyegaon tehsil. Around 200 recommendations were from the vice president. The administration concerned had to consider the recommendations made by the ministers, sitting and former legislators, former presidents,
president and chairman, as well.

Of the 65 proposed administrators, 50 aspirants have started lobbying to get appointed as administrator on GPs of their choice,
while the remaining 15 cited reason of illness and claimed that the place of appointment is far away from the current postings, said the sources.