21 Election Officials Face Legal Action for Duty Negligence
In a significant development that highlights the seriousness of election preparedness, Ghaziabad Police has registered an FIR against 21 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for alleged negligence in performing their duties related to the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The case was filed on Thursday under the Representation of People Act, marking a stern approach by authorities toward election-related responsibilities.
Official Complaint and Legal Action
The legal action was initiated based on a formal complaint filed by Alok Kumar Yadav, Station House Officer of Sihani Gate police station in Ghaziabad. According to police officials, the BLOs were booked for their failure to adequately perform their assigned tasks during the crucial election revision process.
Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar confirmed the development and explained the rationale behind the strict measure. "We have registered FIR against 21 BLOs as this was an important election work and the entire machinery was involved in this," Mandar stated, emphasizing the significance of the electoral revision exercise.
Alarming Work Progress Statistics
The scale of negligence became apparent when officials revealed the disappointing progress of the Special Intensive Revision work. Despite Ghaziabad having 3,089 polling booths serving over 28 lakh voters, only 30% of the SIR-related work had been completed by the time the FIR was filed.
The official FIR document highlighted specific areas of concern, noting that "negligence is being shown in digitization and full cooperation/contribution is not being given in election related work." The complaint further alleged that some officials "are not providing the required cooperation in election-related work and are deliberately obstructing the election process."
Administrative Perspective and Remedial Approach
District Magistrate Mandar provided context about the challenges faced in Ghaziabad, noting that "as Ghaziabad is an industrial area and there are several people staying on rent, finding them was difficult." However, he clarified that the primary objective behind the FIR was corrective rather than punitive.
"We had directed all the BLOs to collect forms... The motive of the FIR was not to punish them but to teach them sincerity. If they finish the work, the FIR would be taken back," Mandar explained, indicating that the authorities are willing to reconsider the legal action if the officials demonstrate improved commitment to their duties.
The case represents a significant administrative move to ensure the integrity of the electoral process in Ghaziabad, particularly important given the district's substantial voter population and complex demographic composition. The development underscores the Election Commission's increased focus on accountability and efficiency in election management ahead of potential electoral exercises.
