Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Jan 23: Andinje gram panchayat member Jagadish Hegde has been disqualified from membership and barred from contesting any panchayat elections for the next six years after charges of irregularly allowing his brother to execute gram panchayat works were proved.

The order was issued by the competent authority of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department (gram panchayat) after it was established that Jagadish Hegde, a BJP-backed member of Andinje gram panchayat, had facilitated his brother Amaresh Hegde to obtain and execute gram panchayat works during his tenure.

An inquiry revealed that the works executed by Amaresh Hegde were duly entered in the panchayat measurement books and that Jagadish Hegde had assisted in the processing of bills related to these works. The authority concluded that Jagadish Hegde had committed dereliction of duty and violated norms by enabling his brother to secure panchayat contracts, thereby abusing his official position.

Based on the findings, action was taken under Section 43(A)(1)(v) of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. As per the order dated January 5, 2026, issued by Shivakumar, the presiding officer of the rural development and panchayat raj department (gram panchayat), Jagadish Hegde’s membership has been cancelled and he has been declared ineligible to contest elections to any panchayat for a period of six years.

The complaint against Jagadish Hegde was filed by a local resident, Harish Kumar, following which the departmental inquiry was initiated.