Chandigarh, Nov 13: Winter is often the season when many of Punjab’s sarpanches and panches head abroad, but now their trips will need a formal green light. The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats has introduced new procedures requiring elected representatives to seek government approval before leaving the country.
Known as “Ex-India Leave,” the provision has long applied to government employees and MLAs. Its extension to sarpanches and panches comes after repeated instances where development work in villages stalled due to their absence. Routine activities and issuance of important certificates often suffered when leaders flew abroad.
The SOPs require applications to be submitted to the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) a month in advance. In the leader’s absence, a panch will officiate under Section 20(5) of the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. Leaders returning from abroad must submit attendance reports, and any extensions will need BDPO approval via email or phone.
Maninder Singh, Sangrur Sarpanch Union president, welcomed the move, saying it would prevent villagers from facing delays in administrative work. “If someone officiates while a sarpanch or panch is away, routine work will continue smoothly,” he said.
With 13,238 sarpanches and over 83,000 panchayat members in the state, the government hopes these SOPs will ensure that villages remain functional and development activities continue uninterrupted, even when leaders take time off for personal travel.
