Himachal: Election body suspends nine officials for lapse

Himachal: The State Election Commission has suspended nine panchayat level officials in Chamba and Mandi districts for lapse in preparations of electoral rolls for the forthcoming panchayat polls in the state. Seven panchayat secretaries, one panchayat inspector and one sub-inspector have been suspended in seven panchayats falling in these two districts. The commission has also issued show cause notices to Block Development Officers of Bharmour and Nihri in the matter. They have been directed to respond by October 25.

While three panchayats, namely Aura, Bajol and Holi, fall in the Bharmour development block in Chamba district, the reaming four - Jhungi, Nihri, Boie and Shegal – fall in the Nihri development block in district Mandi. The commission has ordered an inquiry into the lapse by these panchayat-level officials. While Additional District Magistrate, Bharmour, will conduct an inquiry against the officials of the panchayats in Bharmour development block, SDM Sundernagar will probe the lapses in panchayats in district Mandi.

As per the election commission, these officials did not generate the preview copy of the electoral rolls, which was to be placed in the special meeting of their respective Gram Sabha. “The lapse resulted in the generation of defective draft electoral rolls,” read the commission’s order.