New Delhi, February 16 Using its powers under electoral law, the Election Commission has suspended seven officials in West Bengal with immediate effect for serious misconduct, dereliction of duty, and misuse of statutory powers related to the Systematic Voters' Registration (SV) campaign.
All the suspended officers were working as assistant electoral registration officers for the EC.
Booth-level and electoral registration officers and their assistants are state government employees who work on deputation for the EC to update the voters' list and assist in holding elections.
Quoting orders, EC officials said that the poll authority has directed the state Chief Secretary, Nandini Chakravarty, to initiate disciplinary proceedings against these officials by their respective cadre controlling authorities immediately, without any delay, and to inform the Commission accordingly.
The EC and the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal have been at loggerheads over the ongoing special intensive revision of the voters' list.
