High Court: Pradhanpatis Are Using Their Wives Like Rubber Stamps

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Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has made a strong comment on the interference of husbands in the work of elected women Pradhans. The court said that the Pradhan’s husband is defeating the purpose of women empowerment. He is using his Pradhan wives as a rubber stamp. Whereas, he has no right to interfere in the work of the Pradhan.

Giving this harsh remark, the court of Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamsheri has also imposed a fine of 50 thousand rupees on the headman’s husband of Pahari Kala village of Prayagraj Shankargarh for unauthorized interference in the work of the headman’s wife and interference in the investigation by the officials.

The petitioner Praveen Kumar Singh, a resident of Pahari Kala village in Shankargarh area, had filed the said petition along with the complaint given to the District Magistrate about the work done by the Pradhan in the village under MNREGA. On the direction of the court, the DM got the complaint investigated. During the investigation by the nodal officer, a dispute and a fight broke out between Pradhan’s husband Dharmendra Singh and the complainant Praveen Singh. When Praveen Singh filed an FIR against Pradhan’s husband Dharmendra Singh, Dharmendra Singh also filed a cross case against Praveen Singh.

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After investigation, the police filed a chargesheet in both the cases. The CJM court took cognizance of the chargesheet and issued summons to both the parties. Praveen Singh challenged the chargesheet and summons order in the High Court. The court accepted the petition and cancelled the chargesheet filed against complainant Praveen Singh. It said that the police had been negligent in the investigation. During the investigation, even the statements of the government officials present at the scene were not recorded.

While hearing the petition, the court said that the term Pradhanpati is very widely used in Uttar Pradesh. Despite being an unauthorized authority, the Pradhanpati generally handles the work of a female Pradhan i.e. his wife. This unauthorized interference defeats the purpose of women empowerment and the purpose of giving special reservation to women. To curb this work culture, the Election Commission should take an affidavit from all candidates in future to the effect that they will discharge their duties themselves.

Vishal Talwar