As many as four polling officials have been suspended with immediate effect in Shimla district for alleged negligence during the first phase of the voting for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
The accused officials have been identified as Anil Kumar, Presiding Officer and Polling Officers Prakash Chand, Raj Kumar and Ramesh Chand.
As per the orders issued by District Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, the said officers were on duty at Polling Booth Brandli-1 in Ward No 1 under Gram Panchayat Narain.
DEO said information regarding a serious procedural lapse during polling was received and an inquiry was initiated. During the inquiry, it was found that the rubber stamp for NOTA (None of the Above) had mistakenly been left inside the voting compartment along with the designated Arrow Cross Mark seal.
The matter came to light after a voter complained that he had unintentionally stamped NOTA instead of marking his preferred candidate.
“By the time the information reached the Assistant Returning Officer, about 124 voters had already cast their votes. Due to this error, the polling process was affected and polling was halted temporarily” said the DEO.
Kashyap said the election duty is a highly sensitive responsibility that requires complete alertness and accountability and that any form of negligence would not be tolerated. “During the suspension period, these officers will have to report at the Block Development Officer’s Office in Rampur” he said.
