Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s (WB-CEO’s) Office on Thursday directed District Electoral Officer (DEO)- Murshidabad, who is also District Magistrate, to lodge FIR against Farakka MLA Monirul Islam and send a compliance report to EC by today 5PM, people in the know said.
Islam was allegedly seen in the CCTV footage and purported videos, the veracity of which have not been verified by ET, on the day of vandalism on January 14.
In Farakka, a BDO office was vandalised during protests allegedly by Trinamool Congress, where Islam and his supporters were seen, on January 14. The incident forced stoppage of SIR hearings on that day, following which the Election Commission (EC) directed that an FIR should be registered. The BDO had lodged an FIR against unknown persons miscreants and several persons were arrested in connection with the Farakka violence. The arrested persons are now out on bail.
In Farakka, an unruly mob had entered a hearing centre, located at the BDO office and alleged that ordinary citizens who were asked to furnish documents were being harassed. Some BLOs had attempted to submit mass resignation letters to the ERO, citing pressure and confusion surrounding the exercise.
Trinamool leader Arup Chakraborty claimed that Manirul Islam was present but he did not instigate anyone but instead tried to prevent vandalism.
ECI did not accept “the finalisation of disciplinary action” and called it "procedurally irregular". The state Chief Secretary has been requested to "furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, in connection with the four officials.
In a strongly worded letter, ECI clearly stated that the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised “without adherence to the prescribed procedure” and “without mandatory consultation” with the ECI. The letter pointed out that the “Commission does not accept such finalisation of disciplinary action. Accordingly, the same shall be treated as procedurally irregular and non est in the eyes of the Commission, warranting reconsideration strictly in accordance with the Commission's instructions.”
In its letter, the Commission has directed two clear actions, seeking a “written explanation from the competent authority or officer responsible for the procedural lapse, clearly explaining the circumstances that led to non-compliance with the Commission's instructions.”
Secondly, the Commission has urged to Chief Secretary “furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, file noting and all other relevant records forming the basis of the disciplinary action taken, in respect of all the four officials namely Shri Tathagata Mondal, Shri Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Shri Biplah Sarkar and Shri Sudipta Das.”
Islam was allegedly seen in the CCTV footage and purported videos, the veracity of which have not been verified by ET, on the day of vandalism on January 14.
In Farakka, a BDO office was vandalised during protests allegedly by Trinamool Congress, where Islam and his supporters were seen, on January 14. The incident forced stoppage of SIR hearings on that day, following which the Election Commission (EC) directed that an FIR should be registered. The BDO had lodged an FIR against unknown persons miscreants and several persons were arrested in connection with the Farakka violence. The arrested persons are now out on bail.
In Farakka, an unruly mob had entered a hearing centre, located at the BDO office and alleged that ordinary citizens who were asked to furnish documents were being harassed. Some BLOs had attempted to submit mass resignation letters to the ERO, citing pressure and confusion surrounding the exercise.
Trinamool leader Arup Chakraborty claimed that Manirul Islam was present but he did not instigate anyone but instead tried to prevent vandalism.
ECI letter to CS
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has written a letter to West Bengal Chief Secretary on Wednesday seeking explanation over disciplinary action against four officials, two EROs and two AEROs, and sought a written explanation from the competent authority responsible for the procedural lapse, which led to non-compliance with ECI's instructions. In a strongly worded letter, ECI said that "the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised without adherence to the prescribed procedure" and "without mandatory consultation with ECI.ECI did not accept “the finalisation of disciplinary action” and called it "procedurally irregular". The state Chief Secretary has been requested to "furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, in connection with the four officials.
In a strongly worded letter, ECI clearly stated that the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised “without adherence to the prescribed procedure” and “without mandatory consultation” with the ECI. The letter pointed out that the “Commission does not accept such finalisation of disciplinary action. Accordingly, the same shall be treated as procedurally irregular and non est in the eyes of the Commission, warranting reconsideration strictly in accordance with the Commission's instructions.”
In its letter, the Commission has directed two clear actions, seeking a “written explanation from the competent authority or officer responsible for the procedural lapse, clearly explaining the circumstances that led to non-compliance with the Commission's instructions.”
Secondly, the Commission has urged to Chief Secretary “furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, file noting and all other relevant records forming the basis of the disciplinary action taken, in respect of all the four officials namely Shri Tathagata Mondal, Shri Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Shri Biplah Sarkar and Shri Sudipta Das.”
