Docs to check if employees unfit for election duty

Gurdeep Singh Mann

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 19

The Election Commission is tightening the noose around officials who find excuses to dodge the election duty. The government servants, who cite health issues, now have to undergo a check-up by doctors.

“Earlier, an application attached with a documentary proof of being medically unfit was enough to get rid of the one-day election duty and also from the rehearsal a day before,” said a senior official.

Civil Surgeon RS Randhawa said specialist doctors would diagnose only those patients whose cases would be forwarded by the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

The officials who have been assigned election duties said earlier, government employees would simply move an application about their ailment.

“Such applications were never scrutinised practically and people suffering from chronic problems too used to escape from the election duty,” said a senior official.

He said but now, it would be ascertained whether a person suffering from arthritis, diabetes or other such disease is actually unable to perform duty or it’s just an excuse.

“If a person is actually unable to perform duty due to the ailment then he will be exempted while others would have to perform duty,” the official said.