NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has ordered the immediate suspension of seven West Bengal government officials serving as assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs), citing “serious misconduct, dereliction of duty and misuse of statutory powers” in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
In its order issued on Monday, the Commission invoked its authority under Section 13CC of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to place the officials under suspension with immediate effect. It also directed the West Bengal chief secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against all seven officers without delay and to keep the Commission informed of the action taken.
The suspended officials include AEROs posted in Samserganj, Farakka, Maynaguri, Suti, Canning Purbo and Debra assembly constituencies.
According to sources, irregularities came to light during the scrutiny of cases that had been marked for final publication in the respective constituencies. It was observed that the officers concerned had cleared multiple applications despite the non-submission of mandatory documents, inconsistencies in the mapping of electors and questions over their eligibility. The officials allegedly failed to take corrective measures and approved ineligible cases, thereby misusing the statutory authority vested in them.
“Using its powers under Section 13CC of the RP Act, 1950, the Election Commission of India has placed under suspension seven officials in West Bengal with immediate effect for serious misconduct, dereliction of duty and misuse of statutory powers in connection with SIR,” the Commission stated in its order.
The Commission further directed that disciplinary proceedings be initiated by the respective cadre-controlling authorities “without any delay” and said it must be apprised of developments in the matter.
Those suspended include Sefaur Rahaman, AERO of Samserganj Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district and an assistant director in the agriculture department; Nitish Das, revenue officer in Farakka and AERO for the Farakka Assembly Constituency; Dalia Ray Choudhury, women development officer in Maynaguri and AERO of Maynaguri Assembly Constituency; and Murshid Alam, assistant development administrator in Suti block and AERO for the Suti Assembly Constituency.
In Canning Purbo Assembly Constituency, two officials have been suspended: Satyajit Das, joint block development officer, and Joydeep Kundu, field election officer. The seventh official is Debashis Biswas, joint block development officer and AERO of Debra Assembly Constituency.
The action comes amid the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal, a process aimed at revising and updating electoral rolls to ensure accuracy and integrity ahead of future elections. The Commission’s intervention signals heightened scrutiny over procedural compliance and documentation standards during the revision process.
