SACHIN GUPTA TO RETAIN POST AS BIHIA NAGAR PANCHAYAT CHAIRMAN

SACHIN GUPTA TO RETAIN POST AS BIHIA NAGAR PANCHAYAT CHAIRMAN

15-JULY-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The State Election Commission, Patna, has issued a significant clarification regarding the case of Sachin Kumar Gupta, the Chairman of Bihiya Nagar Panchayat in Bhojpur district. Following an interim directive from the Patna High Court, the Commission has temporarily stayed its earlier order—issued on April 28, 2026—which had declared Sachin Kumar Gupta disqualified and initiated proceedings to remove him from office.

Confirming this officially, Sanjay Kumar, Special Officer on Duty at the State Election Commission, has sent a formal letter to the District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer of Bhojpur. The letter explicitly directs that the implementation of the disputed order be kept in abeyance until the hearing of the case pending before the High Court is concluded.

As part of the judicial process, the Patna High Court had sought a detailed response from the Commission via an affidavit. Furthermore, the Court had expressed the expectation that no further action be taken to enforce the April 28, 2026 order until the matter reached a final resolution. Following these judicial directives, the State Election Commission sought legal counsel from the Advocate General. In accordance with the Advocate General's legal opinion, the Commission decided to temporarily suspend the effect of its previous order.

In its new directive, the Commission clarified that the current status of the Bihiya Nagar Panchayat Chairman's position would depend entirely on the High Court's final verdict; this implies that Sachin Kumar Gupta will continue to hold his office in the interim.

It is noteworthy that the entire dispute stemmed from allegations of misuse of office and neglect of statutory obligations against Sachin Kumar Gupta, the Chief Councillor (Chairman) of Bihiya Nagar Panchayat. Complaints regarding this matter had been lodged with the State Election Commission by the former Deputy Chief Councillor, Baijnath Prasad, and the current Deputy Chief Councillor, Vijay Kumar Gupta.

Previously, after hearing arguments from both sides and reviewing available records, the Commission had ordered the Chairman's disqualification and removal from office—a decision that has now been stayed following the Court's intervention. For now, this decision has put an end to the ongoing political instability within the Bihiya Nagar Panchayat, and all concerned parties are now awaiting the High Court's upcoming verdict.