FIR recommended against 49 govt employees for skipping poll duty rehearsal in Samrala

The Khanna police has initiated the process of registration of an FIR against as many as 49 government personnel in Samrala subdivision who had allegedly breached their official duty in connection with conduct of ensuing Panchayati Raj Institute elections.

Most education department employees deployed as APRO/PRO/PO failed to join the mandatory duty during the rehearsal held on December 11.

The process was initiated on Friday on the basis of a communiqué received by the Samrala DSP from the Samrala Sub-Divisional Magistrate, recommending the registration of a case under Section 120 of the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994.

“I am writing this letter in connection with the employees named in the enclosed list who were deployed on election duty according to the directions of the District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, but they were absent during the rehearsal conducted on December 11. This has adversely affected the important and time-bound election-related work,” read the letter written by the Returning Officer cum SDM to the DSP on Thursday.

The SDM has recommended the immediate registration of an FIR against the aforementioned employees.

Acknowledging the receipt of the communiqué from the Returning Officer, DSP Samrala Tirlochan Singh said that the process for registration of the sought FIR had already been initiated according to the established protocol of investigation.

“We have advised our officials to seek explanations from the employees concerned within the stipulated period and proceed further according to the guidelines of the State Election Commission Punjab,” said Tirlochan Singh.