EC suspends 4 officers for doctoring Bengal poll roll | India News
NEW DELHI: Taking serious note of the “wrongful” additions being made to the West Bengal electoral roll by some of its field officers, Election Commission on Tuesday ordered immediate suspension of EROs and assistant EROs of Baruipur Purba assembly constituency (AC) and Moyna AC. It also directed that an FIR be filed against them for “criminal misconduct”.In a letter sent to the West Bengal chief secretary on Tuesday, the poll panel said it has “taken serious note of the grave lapses and has decided the officers shall be placed under suspension for their failure in supervising the election related work… and suitable disciplinary proceedings initiated against them without any delay”.The action against West Bengal civil service officers and EROs of Baruipur Purba AC and Moyna AC, Debottam Dutta Choudhury and Biplab Sarkar, respectively, and assistant EROs Tathagat Mondal and Sudipta Das, came after the state chief electoral officer (CEO) reported that they had been disposing of applications for inclusion in the electoral roll without proper verification or allowing a window for claims and objections. They also violated the policy of data security by sharing their login credentials for the electoral roll database with unauthorised persons. EC has ordered lodging of an FIR against casual data entry operator Surojit Halder.Significantly, the CEO has reported to EC similar lapses by other West Bengal officials involved in preparation, revision and correction of the electoral roll. Action against these erring officers would follow, said an EC source.The rush on part of certain EROs and AEROs in West Bengal to arbitrarily add names to the state’s roll comes even as EC prepares to order special intensive revision of its roll, on the lines of the exercise in Bihar. A source indicated that the hurry to add electors – many suspected to be Bangladeshi settlers – ahead of assembly polls next year may be an effort to ensure their names are on the roll before the enumeration phase of SIR gets underway.As per Section 32(1) of the R P Act, 1950, any ERO or assistant ERO guilty of any act or omission in breach of official duty, shall be punishable with a minimum jail term of three months, which can extend to two years with fine.
