Notice to four over not showing up for election duties

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 10

Four officials of different government departments were served show cause notices today for not turning up for their elections duties.

While 28 officials from the office of the Deputy Commissioner and Education Department are already working round-the-clock in the election complaint cell, more manpower is required for other election duties.

Officials said more people are required for data entry, for quick disposal of complaints, to keep a tab over the expenditure of the candidates and for doing odd jobs.

“The process of nomination will begin from tomorrow. Our worries are the slow process and excess burden of work,” an official said.

He said the absence of the required officials had not only delayed work but had also affected the accuracy.

“Higher-ups in the Election Commission require data, disposal of complaints and other work without wasting of any time. It becomes difficult to meet the deadlines due to the deficient manpower,” the officials said.

As of now, 15 to 20 teams have been formed for election work. Most of the work is done online but the officials have to keep and maintain record of every document, the officials said.

Local leaders Gian Chand Bansal, Vijay Jindal and others, who are planning to contest elections independently, said the introduction of mobile applications such as WhatsApp and fast internet have changed the scenario, as compared to the last time.

“Even then manpower is required for the efficient and smooth functioning of the election process,” they said.

Unlike previous elections, wherein officials had to make rounds of the offices of SDM, SSP and DC for approvals to hold public gatherings, this time, they do it through e-mail, they added.

“Earlier, an approval was often given after the public function was over,” a local leader said.