The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued orders for placing six officials, including four policemen, under suspension for alleged lapses at a few polling stations of Agra Division Teachers’ Constituency on October 23, an official said.
Such dereliction of duty on the part of officers holding supervisory positions is viewed seriously and cannot be condoned.” The six delinquent officials would face charge sheets and another 21 polling officials shall face disciplinary proceedings, the ECI said in a letter issued to the Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh.
The suspensions were ordered on the basis of an inquiry report filed by the Divisional Commissioner, Agra-cum-Returning Officer for Agra Division Teachers’ Constituency, said a statement. the ECI said, “With utmost concern, the Commission has observed that the officers entrusted with supervisory responsibilities failed to ensure effective supervision and maintain proper control within and in the vicinity of the polling stations While ordering action against the delinquent officials.
The suspended officials from polling station 26 include: Vishal Rathore, Sector Magistrate and Regional Forest Officer, Fatehabad; Inspector Purushottam Pal, Additional Inspector, Fatehabad; and Sub-Inspector Sumit Tyagi, Ekta Police Station, said the statement. In its letter to the CEO, the ECI said, “The authority concerned be directed to issue charge-sheets to the above-mentioned delinquent officers and forward the draft charge-sheets to the Commission for vetting within 10 days from the date of issue of this letter, before their formal issuance to the officers concerned. “In respect of other polling officials (05 nos.- Presiding officer-02 nos., Polling Officer- 03)- and police personnel (16 nos.- Head Constable- 05 nos. and Constable-11 nos.) deployed at Polling Station Nos. 21 and 26, disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated,” said the ECI. Earlier reporting noted: In a letter dated October 26 to UP chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa, ECI secretary Suman Kumar Das said officers entrusted with supervisory responsibilities had failed to ensure effective supervision and maintain proper control within and around the polling stations.
