Udyavara PDO sitting on orders of higher officials and quasi judicial bodies for 4 years, alleges foundation

The Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi, has alleged that red tape and bureaucratic arrogance still exists in Panchayat Raj system with a panchayat development officer (PDO) persistently defying directions from senior officers and quasi judicial bodies to issue property register extract and tax demand register to the owner of a converted house site.

Foundation president Ravindranath Shanbhag told reporters in Udupi on Monday that the PDO of Udyavara Gram Panchayat, adjacent to Udupi City Municipal Council, defied all directions to issue 9/ 11A documents to Vasant Sherigar, an insurance professional, who inherited 9 cents of land in the panchayat limits since 2021. He made multiple visits to different offices and submitted 23 applications in the last four years to secure the documents, but in vain.

Speaking along with Mr. Sherigar, Dr. Shanbhag said the applicant sought 9/11A documents after securing land conversion from the Deputy Commissioner and single-site approval from the Udupi Urban Development Authority (UUDA) in July 2021. Though the panchayat resolved to issue the documents on July 29, 2021, the PDO later insisted that Mr. Sherigar donate 10 feet of land for a proposed road, a condition not mentioned in any official approval, he alleged.

The UUDA categorically stated that no road was proposed through the land. Yet, following a complaint by an unrelated individual, the approval process was stalled for 18 months. After UUDA lifted the stay in March 2023, the 9/11A certificate was finally issued on May 8, 2023. However, the building licence was not granted even after the statutory period, forcing Mr. Sherigar to begin construction under deemed approval rules.

Matters worsened when the PDO cancelled the 9/11A documents on February 15, 2024, allegedly without notice or authorisation. The foundation’s scrutiny of 34 documents found repeated violations of rules, disregard of at least eight orders from senior officers and significant loss of panchayat revenue due to non-issuance of a door number, Dr. Shanbhag said.

An August 22, 2025 order by Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal held that the delay amounted to dereliction of duty and warranted disciplinary action.

Dr. Shanbhag said while PDO Ashok Kumar delayed 9/11A documents for 135 days, his successor H.R. Ramesh delayed the process for 16 months. Though he issued the documents on May 8, 2023, he cancelled if after eight months.

The foundation said it would pursue legal remedies and raise public awareness, warning that such practices defeat the very purpose of the Panchayati Raj system envisioned under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.