EC suspends 6 officers, orders action against 21 others over UP MLC poll lapses

The Election Commission on Monday ordered the immediate suspension of six supervisory officers over lapses during polling in the Agra Teachers' Constituency election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, while directing disciplinary proceedings against 21 other personnel.The action relates to irregularities during the original polling held on October 23 at three polling stations, which the Commission subsequently declared void and ordered a re-poll. The Commission flagged the failure of supervisory officers to maintain effective oversight and proper control at and around the polling stations.The ECI said that the officers entrusted with supervisory responsibilities had failed to ensure effective supervision and maintain proper control within and in the vicinity of the polling stations. It described the dereliction of duty by the officers as serious and said it could not be condoned.The six officers ordered to be suspended were deployed at polling stations 21 and 26. The Commission has directed the authorities concerned to prepare charge-sheets against them and submit draft copies for its vetting within 10 days of the letter, before formally issuing them. Those ordered to be suspended include Sector Magistrate OP Chak, Crime Branch Inspector Harisharan Singh and Etmaddaula Police Station Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kumar.Suspension has also been ordered for another Sector Magistrate Vishal Rathore, Additional Inspector Purushottam Pal and Ekta Police Station Sub-Inspector Sumit Tyagi. The Commission has directed the authorities concerned to initiate immediate action against the six officers and submit a compliance report without delay.Apart from the six supervisory officers, the ECI has ordered disciplinary proceedings against 21 other personnel in connection with the polling irregularities.The personnel include five polling officials -- two presiding officers and three polling officers -- and 16 police personnel, comprising five head constables and 11 constables.The Commission has also directed the Agra divisional commissioner to immediately fix responsibility for the incidents that necessitated the re-poll, including the role of police personnel and polling officials.On October 24, amid allegations of irregularities, the Election Commission ordered a re-poll at polling stations 20, 21 and 26 in the Agra Teachers’ Constituency. It declared the polling held at the three stations on October 23 void.The Commission also said that people involved in unlawful activities that may have caused the irregularities leading to the cancellation of the poll should not be deployed for the re-poll.- Ends