TENKASI: An activist petitioned the chief minister's special cell and the district collector on Sunday alleging that the Vasudevanallur town panchayat administration conducted an area sabha meeting in a HR & CE temple without inviting the residents. Instead, elderly people, who visited the temple to take part in the Annathanam, were made to take part in the meeting, the petition said.
In his petition, activist T Suresh alleged the town panchayat had conducted area sabha meetings on Thursday in most of the wards for mere documentation purpose.
"In ward 18, neither the councillor nor the panchayat officials invited the residents for the meeting. Instead, they gathered women, who visited the Sinthamaninathar temple for Annathanam, after telling them that they had to photograph the beneficiaries of Annathanam.
After making them sit on chairs, the officials read out the agenda of the area sabha meeting and got their signatures. Without knowing what was happening, the elderly women signed, and left the premises," he alleged.
Suresh has petitioned the chief minister through the special cell, collector, municipal administration and HR & CE departments in this regard. "I spoke with the HR & CE officials who stated that no such permission was granted to the Vasudevanallur town panchayat to conduct the area sabha meeting in the temple premises.
The councillors and officials should be taught the importance of area sabha meetings," he added. Meanwhile, Vasudevanallur town panchayat chairperson Lavanya and Executive Officer Paramasivan were not available for comments.