Bengal chief secretary appears before EC on inaction against officials

Kolkata: West Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant, who appeared before the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday, has been asked by the ECI to comply with its directive to take action against four officials in connection with electoral roll irregularities in the state by August 21. Pant was summoned by ECI to appear before it to clarify his stand over his failure to take action against the four officials.

Pant had reached the ECI's office at around 4.30 pm and left at around 6 pm. Sources said he met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the election commissioners. Pant, however, refused to comment on what transpired at the meeting.

On August 5, the ECI had directed the chief secretary to suspend two EROs and two AEROs for committing "grave lapses" and "failing to perform their duties" for violating the policy of data security by sharing their login credentials of the ER database with unauthorised persons. ECI had then directed the chief secretary to suspend the four officials, lodge FIRs and start a departmental enquiry against them. Similar action was to be taken against a casual worker also.