Report for election duty or face action, says DC

The tightening of noose around the erring employees, who had not reported for the election duty in Shahkot assembly bypoll, by Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Varinder Kumar Sharma produced the desired results and more than 150 employees on Tuesday reported on duty in the District Administrative Complex.

As per the details, more than 300 employees out of total 1,700 had not turned up for the poll duty during the first rehearsal of the polling officers, presiding oficers and Assistant Presiding Officers on Sunday. In view of this, Deputy Commissioner had asked the officers to issue show cause notice to erring employees and subsequently lodge FIRs against them if they were not able to give any satisfactory reply.

Mr. Sharma had said besides lodging FIR against the erring employees the administration would initiate disciplinary proceedings against the employees under Section 134 of the Representation of the People Act.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner also called a meeting of the Heads of Department (HoDs) of the various branches involved in the election process in his office early in the morning. During the meeting, he warned the HoDs of serious repercussions if their employees do not report on election duty. Sharma said this was a national duty and no one could dare to skip it on one pretext or another.

The DC also warned the HoDs that the administration would also fix their responsibility for failing in their responsibility to send their staff on poll duty.

He said in case the officials who have been deployed on election duty have superannuated or have been transferred then the concerned department must supplement it with new staff.Mr. Sharma categorically said any sort of dereliction of poll duty would not be tolerated at any cost.