West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty today met officials of the Election Commission of India at its New Delhi office after being summoned to explain alleged non-compliance with a series of commission’s orders.
Sources said Mrs Chakraborty, who was asked to appear before the commission by 3 p.m, held a one-hour meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. The poll panel had taken exception to what it described as violations of its directives. Details of the meeting were not immediately known, though she is believed to have assured the commission that necessary steps would be taken by the state government.
The summons followed repeated reminders from the ECI seeking compliance with its orders. The commission was reportedly concerned that no action had been taken against five officials ~ including two EROs, two AEROs and a data entry operator ~ accused of irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The Chief Secretary had been directed to suspend them and lodge FIRs, but no action was initiated.
In another case, an AERO in Basirhat II allegedly appointed 11 officers without the commission’s approval during the period of enforcement of its orders. Suspension and a departmental inquiry were recommended, but no steps were taken.
Additionally, three state officers appointed as Electoral Roll Observers were allegedly transferred in violation of commission directives, with no clarification provided by the state government.