In a stern move ahead of the upcoming civic body elections, authorities in Maharashtra have taken unprecedented action against government employees refusing election-related duties. The administration has registered police complaints against four headmasters in Nagpur and issued show-cause notices to over 500 staff in Amravati for dereliction of duty.
Nagpur Headmasters Face Legal Action for Refusal
The crackdown began when four headmasters in Nagpur's Dharampeth zone refused to accept their appointment letters for polling duty. The letters were served personally after Nagpur municipal commissioner and election officer Abhijeet Chaudhari issued orders to nearly 15,000 officers and employees on December 21. Polling for the civic bodies in Maharashtra is scheduled for January 15.
Following their refusal, assistant commissioner Rajkumar Meshram instructed officials to lodge formal complaints. Accordingly, complaints were filed at the Ambazari police station by authorized officers Omprakash Koche, Karansingh Behunia, Rohit Leader, and Vishal Nitanware. The police have been asked to register offences under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which deals with disobedience of a lawful order from a competent authority.
Civic officers argued that such refusals create an obstruction in the election process and, if unchecked, could disrupt the constitutional responsibility of conducting free and fair elections. Ambazari police have acknowledged receipt of the complaints and stated that further action will follow procedure.
Amravati's Zero-Tolerance Stance on Absenteeism
Simultaneously, a similar message of strict enforcement has emerged from Amravati. The municipal administration there has issued show-cause notices to 514 officers and employees appointed for election duties within the Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC) limits. This action came after the staff remained absent from mandatory training sessions and assigned election work.
Amravati municipal commissioner Saumya Sharma (Chandak) emphasized that the administration is committed to a transparent and disciplined election process. She stressed that election duty is mandatory and legally binding. For election preparedness, the AMC has deployed 900 teams involving approximately 3,600 officers and employees.
The commissioner warned that absence during training or actual duty is being treated as a serious lapse. The absentee staff have been asked to submit explanations, and unsatisfactory replies could invite disciplinary action, departmental inquiries, and penalties as per rules. Attendance will be strictly monitored in the coming days.
A Turning Point in Enforcement
This development marks a significant shift in how election duty defaults are handled. For many government teachers and employees across Nagpur, the move signals that refusing election duty may no longer end with mere departmental memos but could lead directly to criminal proceedings. The administration's concern was already heightened after nearly 5,000 employees skipped training on December 28 and attended only after notices were served.
Officials across departments interpret these actions as a clear warning: once appointed, polling duty is a binding legal responsibility, not an optional assignment. With mounting pressure, the message is unequivocal—election duty cannot be treated as negotiable, and the administration is prepared to use all legal and disciplinary measures to ensure a smooth electoral process.
