LUCKNOW: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday ordered the immediate suspension of six officers, including two sector magistrates and four police personnel, for supervisory lapses during polling in the Agra Division Teachers’ constituency of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.The commission also directed disciplinary proceedings against other polling personnel deployed at polling stations 21 and 26, where repolling was held on Monday.In a letter dated October 26 to UP chief electoral officer Navdeep Rinwa, ECI secretary Suman Kumar Das said officers entrusted with supervisory responsibilities had failed to ensure effective supervision and maintain proper control within and around the polling stations.
ECI notice
The commission observed that such dereliction of duty by supervisory officers was serious and could not be condoned.At polling station 21 in Saiyan, the commission ordered the suspension of sector magistrate OP Chak, sector police officer Inspector Hariharan Singh and sub-inspector Sandeep Kumar.At polling station 26 in Fatehabad, sector magistrate Vishal Rathore, Inspector Purushottam Pal and sub-inspector Sumit Tyagi also face suspension.The commission directed the authorities to issue chargesheets against the six officers and forward draft chargesheets to the ECI for vetting within 10 days.Disciplinary proceedings were also ordered against five presiding officers, three polling officers, five head constables and 11 constables deployed at the two polling stations, in accordance with the divisional commissioner’s inquiry findings.An immediate compliance report has been sought.
