ECI Crackdown: 7 West Bengal Officials Axed Over 'Misconduct', 'Misuse Of Power' In SIR Process

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has placed seven West Bengal officials under suspension and ordered the Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to launch disciplinary action against them.

According to ANI, the ECI cited "serious misconduct, dereliction of duty, and misuse of statutory powers" during the Special Intensive Revision process as the grounds for this crackdown.

Invoking its powers under Section 13CC of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the commission  asked chief secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them without delay.

The officials who have been suspended are:

• Sefaur Rahaman, Assistant Director of Agriculture Department and AERO for 56-Samserganj Assembly Constituency, District Murshidabad
• Nitish Das, Revenue Officer, Farakka, and AERO for 55-Farakka Assembly Constituency.
• Dalia Ray Choudhury, Women Development Officer, Maynaguri Development Block, and AERO for 16-Maynaguri Assembly Constituency.
• Murshid Alam, ADA, Suti Block, and AERO for 57-Suti Assembly Constituency.
• Satyajit Das, Joint BDO and AERO for 139-Canning Purbo Assembly Constituency.
• Joydeep Kundu, FEO and AERO for 139-Canning Purbo Assembly Constituency.
• Debashis Biswas, Joint BDO and AERO for 229-Debra Assembly Constituency.

Revised schedule for ongoing SIR process

Meanwhile, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal announced a revised schedule for the ongoing SIR process in the state on Tuesday, following a Supreme Court order. 

In its statement, the CEO said the hearing of notices will be completed by February 14. The review of the documents and disposal of the claim will be completed by February 21. 

The statement also said that the rationalisation of polling stations will be completed by February 25. The health parameter checks are to be conducted by February 27. The final electoral roll will be published on February 28. 

This revision was announced following the Supreme Court's judgment ordering a one-week extension to publish the final electoral roll under the Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal.
The Court also issued a show-cause notice to the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal over allegations of violence and the burning of election records during the revision process. 

The final electoral roll, which was earlier scheduled to be published on February 14, will now be released after the extended timeline. 

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the extension was necessary as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) required additional time to scrutinise documents and take appropriate decisions.

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