West Bengal chief secretary sends compliance letter to EC; FIRs filed against four officers | India News – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty on Tuesday apprised the Election Fee about partial compliance of the fee’s instructions pending with the state govt—together with submitting of FIRs against four officers for violation of information safety and suspension of the Basirhat assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) — inside the Feb 17, 5.30 pm deadline set by the ballot panel.Nevertheless, compliance stays pending as regards EC route dated Feb 13 to Chakravorty for cancellation of switch orders issued by the state govt in respect of three electoral roll observers—Aswini Kumar yadav, Randhir Kumar, and Smita Pandey—with out prior session with the ballot panel. Additionally, the state govt is but to ship a proposal relating to appointment of returning officers (ROs) and electoral registration officer (EROs) as per standards laid down by EC.

The norms require them to be officers on the stage of sub divisional Justice of the Peace (SDM), sub divisional officer (SDO) or income divisional officer. At current, ROs in solely 67 of the state’s 294 meeting constituencies (ACs) and EROs in solely 68 ACs are of the rank of SDO/SDM. Confirming receipt of the compliance letter from West Bengal chief secretary on Tuesday, EC sources advised TOI that the fee, which is presently on a go to to Assam, “shall study the letter upon its return right here”.In the meantime, the West Bengal chief electoral officer, in a submit on X on Tuesday, mentioned he had suspended three micro observers, primarily based on studies of EC-appointed district electoral roll observers. “Electoral roll micro observers being below deputation to ECI are directed to carry out their duties diligently and never to outsource/delegate their work to anybody else, failing which they are going to be answerable for the implications,” he posted.Solely on Sunday, the EC had suspended seven AEROs within the state with quick impact, over “dereliction of responsibility”. Throughout its assembly with West Bengal chief secretary right here final week, EC had requested the state administration to adjust to its instructions relating to fee of honorarium to BLOs, appointment of appropriate SIR/ballot-associated officers, rescinding of unilateral switch of roll observers and registration of FIRs against errant officers, newest by 5.30 pm on Feb 17.The February 17, 5.30 pm deadline set by EC, nonetheless, was not in respect of the pending honorarium dues.