Denied Pay For 27 Months, Karnataka Man Ends Life Outside Panchayat Office

Last Updated:October 18, 2025, 12:48 IST

A man died by suicide at Honganuru Gram Panchayat, alleging 27 months unpaid salary and harassment. BJP criticised Karnataka government’s negligence.

The deceased had been working at the panchayat office since 2016.(X/@BYVijayendra)

A man working as a waterman at the Honganuru Gram Panchayat in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, died by suicide in front of a panchayat office, alleging non-payment of salary for the past 27 months and mental harassment by local officials.

The deceased has been identified as Chikoosa Nayaka. In his suicide note he said he had been working at the panchayat office since 2016.

He added that despite repeatedly requesting settlement of his pending salary and even submitting a resignation due to ill health, officials failed to respond, NDTV reported.

“I have been working as the waterman since 2016. I requested the Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) and the Gram Panchayat president to clear my 27-month pending salary, but they ignored me. I even approached the Zilla Panchayat CEO, but nothing happened," he wrote.

In his note, he further alleged that the PDO, Rame Gowda, and the husband of the Gram Panchayat president, Mohan Kumar, subjected him to continuous mental harassment.

“If I asked for leave, they would tell me to find a replacement before taking time off. They made me stay in the office from 8 am to 6 pm. I am ending my life due to the harassment of the PDO and Mohan Kumar," the note said. He also urged the authorities to take legal action against them.

Police registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the incident, against the PDO, the Gram Panchayat president, and her husband.

The Zilla Panchayat CEO suspended Rame Gowda, citing negligence and violation of service rules.

BJP Slams

Following the incident, the BJP slammed the Karnataka government, accusing it of “inhuman governance" and “failure to pay salaries on time."

“In this government’s system, Class 3 and 4 employees, as well as contractual workers, rely entirely on their salaries to build their lives. The failure to show even minimal humanity towards them and the shameful situation of being unable to pay salaries on time is utterly disgraceful," Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa posted on  X.

Yediyurappa demanded that the state immediately create a mechanism to ensure timely salary payments to all government and semi-government employees, especially those in local bodies and corporations.

“The tragedy and misfortune are that the government, which many rely on for their livelihoods, is behaving mercilessly, ensuring that the light of Deepavali does not shine in their lives," he said, urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar to act swiftly.

News india Denied Pay For 27 Months, Karnataka Man Ends Life Outside Panchayat Office

Read More