ElectionCommission – Bengal Government Files FIR Against Four Poll Officers
ElectionCommission – The West Bengal government on Tuesday registered First Information Reports against four senior officials following instructions from the Election Commission of India. The action came hours before a deadline set by the poll authority, underscoring mounting pressure on the state administration over alleged lapses in voter registration.
The officers named in the FIR include two West Bengal Civil Service executives who had earlier served as Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers in the Baruipur Purba and Moyna Assembly constituencies. These constituencies fall under South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts. According to officials familiar with the matter, the officers are accused of enrolling fictitious voters during last year’s electoral roll revision exercise.
Deadline Set by Poll Panel
Last Friday, the Election Commission of India directed Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to initiate legal proceedings against the four officers by 17 February. The directive followed an internal review of alleged discrepancies found in the updated electoral rolls.
On Tuesday afternoon, the state secretariat at Nabanna confirmed that the FIRs had been filed in compliance with the Commission’s order. Election officials said the chief secretary forwarded a compliance report to the Commission before the 5 pm deadline.
The Commission is currently on an official visit to Assam. An official indicated that the report submitted by the West Bengal government would be examined once the Commission returns from its review tour.
Chief Secretary Appears Before Full Bench
The developments come days after Nandini Chakraborty travelled to New Delhi to meet the full bench of the Election Commission. During the meeting, she was asked to clarify why earlier directives related to electoral roll management had not been implemented in a timely manner.
Sources within the Commission said that, apart from registering FIRs against the four officers, the state administration has also been instructed to carry out several additional corrective measures previously outlined by the poll body. These measures relate to ensuring accuracy and transparency in voter list revisions.
Suspension of Additional Officers
The legal action follows a series of disciplinary measures taken over the past few days. On Sunday night, the Election Commission suspended seven Assistant Electoral Registration Officers from six Assembly segments across West Bengal. These officers, also members of the West Bengal Civil Service, were found prima facie responsible for including ineligible individuals in the electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision process.
Officials said the suspensions were ordered after an internal inquiry concluded that procedural lapses had compromised the integrity of the revision exercise. The Commission has emphasized that maintaining clean and accurate voter lists is central to ensuring free and fair elections.
Micro-Observers Also Face Action
In a related move, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal on Tuesday suspended three electoral roll micro-observers on grounds of negligence linked to the same revision drive. The decision followed reports submitted by district-level roll observers.
The suspended micro-observers were on deputation to the Election Commission and are affiliated with Bangiyo Grameen Bikash Bank, UCO Bank and the Central Tax and CGST department. Authorities indicated that further examination of their roles would be conducted as part of the ongoing review.
Focus on Electoral Transparency
The recent steps highlight the Election Commission’s focus on accountability in the preparation of electoral rolls. With elections considered the backbone of democratic governance, the Commission has reiterated that strict adherence to established procedures is non-negotiable.
State officials have maintained that they are cooperating fully with the poll panel and are committed to implementing all directives issued in connection with the revision process. Further action, if required, will depend on the Commission’s assessment of the compliance report and related findings.