ECI orders suspension of Basirhat Officer over ‘serious lapses’ in electoral hearings

Kolkata: In a letter to Chief Secretary (CS) of West Bengal, the Election of Commission (ECI) has flagged “serious lapses” and irregularities in the hearing process at Basirhat and has directed the CS to suspend Sumitra Pratim Pradhan who is AERO and BDO of Basirhat-II, and start disciplinary proceedings against him. Pradhan has allegedly deployed 11 officials as "additional AEROs" to conduct the hearings, which was against the law.

ECI has referred to this as "a grave lapse" and "a serious misconduct and violation of statutory provision”, it was stated.

The chief secretary has been asked to revert to the ECI on the “action taken in this regard” within 48 hours after receiving the letter. ECI instructed that Pradhan be “placed under suspension with immediate effect and removed from any electoral roll revision-related work” and disciplinary proceedings be initiated against him.


“Disciplinary proceedings against him be initiated forthwith and action taken in this regard shall be intimated to the Commission within 48 hours of receipt of this letter.”

ECI has said in a letter, seen by ET, that Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal Manoj Kumar Agarwal has forwarded a report dated 23.01.2026, following “an inquiry into irregularities in the hearing process at 125-Basirhat AC. Upon perusal of the report, it has been found that Shri Sumitra Pratim Pradhan, AERO and BDO, Basirhat-II, himself an AERO, deployed 11 officials as "Additional AEROS to conduct hearing by issuing suo moto orders.”

These 11 officials were not notified as AEROs under Section 130 of the Representation of the People Act. 1950, ECI said. “Such action is a grave lapse on his part and amounts to serious misconduct and violation of the statutory provisions,” the ECI letter, seen by ET noted.

The Election Commission has taken “serious note” of the lapses committed by the officer and asked the Chief Secretary to place Pradhan under “suspension with immediate effect” and removed from any electoral roll revision-related work. “Disciplinary proceedings against him be initiated forthwith and action taken in this regard shall be intimated to the Commission within 48 hours of receipt of this letter. Further progress in disciplinary proceedings in the case shall be intimated to the Commission from time to time.”

The strict compliance of the directions must be done, ECI said.

Meanwhile, a micro-observer was allegedly slapped and assaulted in Dakshin Dinajpur’s Kumarganj on Sunday morning during a Bengal SIR hearing. The incident happened despite a recent Supreme Court order following which the ECI had directed the state DGP and chief secretary to maintain law and order at the hearing centres.

In Kumarganj, around 80-90 people assembled at the BDO office and the micro-observer was assaulted during the hearing. He was later rescued by the police, who apparently after an hour.

“We have received a report on this matter. The person is an LIC officer and Balurghat resident. He has not lodged any FIR. The situation is under control and there is no law and order problem now. The DEO is looking into the matter and we will receive a detailed report,” West Bengal CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal said.