Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ordered the state government to immediately reinstate Shanti Manjari Dei as Chairperson of the Deogarh Municipal Council.
She was removed from the post on January 28, 2025.
The court observed that the state government had unlawfully removed her from the position and directed the Director of Municipal Administration as well as the Special Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department to restore her to the chairperson’s post without delay. The order also mandates relieving Vice-Chairperson Prijit Kumar Bhoj of his additional responsibilities as acting chairperson.
Shanti Manjari Dei was removed following allegations of irregularities, including failure to convene regular monthly meetings and lapses in handling market tenders and other municipal schemes. After the district collector conducted an inquiry and submitted a report, the state government initiated disciplinary action and ousted her from office. “After careful consideration of inquiry report of the District Magistrate & Collector, Deogarh, the explanation offered by the Chairperson and after giving her an opportunity of personal hearing on January 22, 2025, the state government is satisfied that she wilfully violated the provisions of the said Act and the rules,
disobeyed the guidelines issued by the Government and failed to discharge her duties as a Chairperson,” the official notification issued by the Housing & Urban Development Department read.
Consequently, Bhoj assumed charge as acting chairperson on January 31, 2025.
Following her removal, Dei had alleged political vendetta behind the government’s decision. She subsequently approached the High Court for relief.
