In Brief
A Sarpanch (village head) was suspended pending administrative enquiry under the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, following an FIR for alleged robbery and murder. The High Court had granted him bail in the criminal case. The Supreme Court held that the administrative enquiry must be concluded expeditiously and independently of the criminal proceedings, without applying criminal standards of proof. Suspension cannot continue indefinitely. The respondent was directed to conclude proceedings by 30 April 2022, requiring the appellant to cooperate.
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