The Ahmedabad High Court on August 11 came down heavily on the state government for failing to comply with its earlier orders and prevent elected representatives from issuing a certificate to convicts. The motive of women empowerment at the local level is defeated with males still dominating the functioning of the Gram Panchayat, where women are elected as sarpanch." The court was hearing four bail applications, in which the applications were attached to the certificate issued by the Gram Panchayat sarpanch or deputy sarpanch. In all cases, the names of women sarpanch were found to be rubber-stamped. In one such case, the husband had forged his wife's signature, the court noted in its order.

Source: dna August 26, 2017 02:15 UTC