Woman Sarpanch Loses Post For Being Unable To Write In Odia

Paralakhemundi: Two years after being elected, a woman sarpanch in Odisha’s Gajapati district lost her post because of her inability to write Odia.

The woman, identified as Kanakalata Pal (56), was the sarpanch of Chandiput panchayat in Mohana block of Gajapati district.

The incident came to light after a legal challenge by her rival candidate, TNIE reported.
Kanakalata Pal was elected Sarpanch in the 2022 Panchayat election, defeating Lalita Badaraita.

According to the Panchayat Act, candidates must be able to read and write in Odia to hold the post of sarpanch.

Lalita initially filed a complaint with the election officer in Mohana. As no action was taken, she subsequently took the matter to the First Class Judicial Magistrate in Mohana.

During the hearing, magistrate Subhjit Behera asked Kanakalata to demonstrate her ability to read and write in Odia. While she could read the language, she was unable to write it.

Consequently, the magistrate disqualified her election and directed the Gajapati district election officer and Mohana block development officer (BDO) to conduct a re-election for the sarpanch post.

Kanakalata said she will challenge the verdict in a higher court.