Mysuru:  A show-cause notice has been served on Geetha, President of Chamundi Hill Gram Panchayat asking why action should not be taken against her for asking a Pourakarmika to physically clean an overflowing manhole recently. The notice was issued by the State Government.

However, since Geetha has been absconding after the incident, the notice has been pasted on the doors of her house.

On June 7, Geetha and Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Anand allegedly forced a civic worker to climb down a manhole that was full with sewage. They asked Pourakarmika Ganesh to get inside the overflowing manhole in front of Geetha’s house at Thavarekere village. Photos and videos of Ganesh getting into the manhole were circulated widely in the media.

The incident had sparked outrage across the State and an FIR was registered at Krishnaraja Police Station. PDO Anand was suspended and the FIR was registered by D.G. Gurushanthappa, Assistant Director, Social Welfare Department, Nazarbad.

The complaint was filed for criminal intimidation and for violations of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act which prohibits local authorities from employing humans to clear sewer lines and septic tanks. All of these offences could attract jail terms of two years.

Following the incident, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chief Executive Officer P. Shivashankar wrote to the State Government recommending action against Geetha. Now Geetha has to reply to the show-cause notice within a week following which the Government will decide on her Presidentship and Panchayat Membership.