New Delhi, March 15
Taking a stern view on dereliction of duty, the Election Commission today turned down the Madhya Pradesh government’s reconsideration plea and asked it to suspend the officials and order an inquiry against them.

The commission asked the state government for compliance of its order against six senior administrative-cum-poll officials and disciplinary action against 10 others for “dereliction” of duty in revision of electoral rolls.

“The suspensions ordered in respect of certain officers before the departmental inquiry proceedings are initiated, has been insisted upon by the commission because of the magnitude of errors detected in the areas where these officers were functioning and the fact that they should not be in any position to interfere with the inquiry process”, EC sources said after a full commission meeting.

The commission had directed suspension and inquiry against Collectors and their deputies in the districts of Khargone, Shahdoh and the then Collector of Rewa.

It had ordered stern disciplinary action against 10 officers on charges of “gross indiscipline and irresponsibility” during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls.