Poll duty absenteeism to be dealt with strictly: Dayalan

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 8

In a democratic set-up, conduct of free and fair elections is one of the most important duties of the administration. An officer or official showing callousness towards the job or wilful absenteeism from duty will be dealt with strictly.

This was stated by District Electoral Officer (DEO) Girish Dayalan in a meeting held here today to review the poll preparedness for the forthcoming civic body elections.

Dayalan said in case of absenteeism from duty, the administration would write against the erring officer/official to the respective department’s administrative secretaries for strict departmental and penal action as well as to the State Election Commission for action under relevant Sections of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act) 1951 and the Punjab State Election ACT, 1994.

Ex-BJP councillor sues returning officer

Mohali: Former BJP councillor Sahibee Anand has filed an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the returning officer for displaying his name in the rejected candidates’ list even after getting the signatures of the proposer on his nomination papers from ward no. 12. Jagdeep Sehgal, Mohali SDM and Returning Officer of Ward No. 1-25, said they had got the signature of the proposer on the instructions of the High Court. The nomination papers had been rejected and now the matter was in the court. He said action would be taken in the case only on the directions of the court during next hearing on February 10. — TNS