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ECI Suspends Bengal Officer for Poll Duty Negligence Amid Transfer Row

The Election Commission of India suspended joint BDO and assistant returning officer Jyotsna Khatun in East Burdwan for gross dereliction of duty. The ECI directed the state chief secretary to implement the suspension and disciplinary action immediately. It defended its minimal transfers of bureaucrats and police officers, contrasting it with the West Bengal government's transfer of 1,370 officers before the model code was enforced. The state's Chief Electoral Officer reiterated a zero-tolerance policy for free and fair elections in the upcoming two-phase assembly polls.

Key Points: ECI Suspends Bengal Officer, Defends Minimal Transfers Before Polls

  • Officer suspended for gross dereliction
  • ECI orders immediate disciplinary action
  • Defends minimal transfers pre-MCC
  • State transferred 1,370 officers before polls
  • CEO reiterates zero-tolerance for fair polls
2 min read

Bengal polls: ECI suspends joint BDO/ARO for dereliction of duty

Election Commission suspends joint BDO/ARO in East Burdwan for dereliction of duty, clarifies minimal transfers compared to state's large-scale moves.

"This chaos created by the West Bengal government was corrected by ECI by a minimal number of transfers. - Commission insider"

Kolkata, April 3

The Election Commission of India, on Friday, announced the suspension of a joint block development officer, also the assistant returning officer, in East Burdwan district of West Bengal on charges of gross dereliction of duty.

The officer concerned is Jyotsna Khatun, the joint BDO-cum-ARO of the Khandaghosh Development Block in East Burdwan district.

In a communique sent by the ECI's Secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra to the West Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, the latter had been directed to place Khatun under immediate suspension and also to initiate disciplinary action against her immediately.

"The directions of the Commission are implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report in this regard is to be sent by 11 a.m. on April 4, 2026," the communique said.

At the same time, the ECI had also clarified on Friday that the number of bureaucrats and police officers, who were transferred by the Commission after the model code of conduct (MCC), is negligible compared to the huge number of bureaucrats and police officers immediately before the MCC was enforced.

As per the data provided by the ECI on Friday evening, just before starting of special intensive revision (SIR) was announced October 27, 2025, till elections were announced on March 16, 2026, West Bengal government transferred a large number of 1,370 officers, including 97 Indian Administrative Service (IAS), 146 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, 1,080 West Bengal Civil Service officers and 47 West Bengal Police Service Officers.

"This chaos created by the West Bengal government was corrected by ECI by a minimal number of transfers," said a Commission insider.

Meanwhile, the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) had issued a social media post on Friday afternoon, claiming that the ECI had mandated zero tolerance policy regarding conducting free, fair and violence-free polls for the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal in two phases later this month.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While accountability is important, I hope due process was followed for the suspended officer. A single person's suspension makes headlines, but the article mentions 1370 transfers by the state govt before MCC. That's the real story needing scrutiny.
P
Priyanka N
As a Bengali, I just want peaceful voting. Too much violence and drama every election. If suspending one officer sets an example for zero tolerance, then it's welcome. Hope this ensures my elderly parents can vote without fear.
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Aman W
The numbers speak volumes. State govt transfers a huge army of officers just before elections, ECI does a few corrective transfers and is called biased. The "chaos" was created by the state, not the Commission. Facts are clear.
M
Meera T
Dereliction of duty cannot be tolerated, especially during elections. But let's not make this officer a scapegoat while bigger systemic issues remain. The focus should be on the voting process being smooth for common people like us.
V
Vikram M
Finally some action! Bengal elections are always a tense affair. Hope this sends a strong message to all officials to do their duty without fear or favour. Jai Hind!

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