Seeking exemption from poll duty costs employee dear

Tribune News Service

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Mohali, May 9 

Asking for exemption from election duty on the grounds of multiple ailments cost dear to a woman employee of the Verka milk plant here. 

Considering the number of ailments, the authorities not only gave the employee an exemption from the election duty but also recommended her premature retirement to the department concerned. 

The employee, who has been serving as a junior assistant at the milk plant, sent a request to the District Election Officer stating that she was deputed as a polling officer. She sought exemption from the duty as she was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Besides, she claimed that she could not hear properly and her eyesight was weak. She had also undergone an operation to remove a tumour, she added. 

On the matter, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said after going through the employee’s request, she was allowed exemption from the election duty. “Besides, we are also recommending necessary action in all such cases to the appointing authorities concerned,” said Sapra.

Sapra said a number of requests and applications were being received by her office with such requests. “Most of those have been turned down,” said Sapra. 

SS Gill, General Manager, Verka milk plant, said the issue was in his knowledge. “I could only say that everything would be done as per the rules,” he said. 

What she stated

The employee, who serves as a junior assistant at the Verka milk plant, stated that she was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Besides, she could not hear properly and her eyesight was weak, she stated, adding that she had also undergone an operation to remove a tumour.