Election Commission suspends 7 West Bengal officials over misconduct in voter list revision

Using its powers under the electoral law, the Election Commission has suspended seven officials in West Bengal with immediate effect for serious misconduct, dereliction of duty and misuse of statutory powers in connection with SIR.

The poll body has directed the state Chief Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officers, official sources said.

The suspended officers serve as assistant election registration officers (AEROs) for the Murshidabad, Farakka, Maynaguri, Suti, Canning Purbo, and Debra Assembly constituencies.

Booth-level and electoral registration officers and their assistants are state government employees who work on deputation for the EC to update the voters' list and help hold elections.

The poll authority has directed state Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravarty that disciplinary proceedings be initiated against these officials by their respective cadre controlling authorities immediately, without any delay and the Commission be apprised in this regard.

According to ECI sources, a review of cases pending for final publication of electoral rolls found that all seven officials had cleared multiple cases despite non-submission of prescribed documents, inconsistencies in mapping and eligibility of electors, and failure to take corrective action, thereby approving ineligible cases and misusing their statutory powers.

The EC and the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal have been at loggerheads over the ongoing special intensive revision of the voters' list.