The Hindu : Front Page : Pilibhit election officer, SP transferred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 19, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Pilibhit election officer, SP transferred

Atiq Khan

Notices served on BJP State president Tripathi and Varun

Disciplinary proceedings initiated against them
Failure to give a convincing reply ‘will invite further action.’

LUCKNOW: Taking a serious view of the Varun Gandhi episode, the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the transfer of the District Magistrate (DM) of Pilibhit, Mahendra Prasad Agarwal, and the Superintendent of Police, R.K. Chaturvedi, on charges of dereliction of duty.

They were transferred to non-election related posts. Mr. Agarwal was the District Election Officer of Pilibhit by virtue of his post.

New incumbents are to be named later.

On Tuesday, the ADM of Pilibhit, S.S Kamaal, and the ASP, Saurav Kush, were suspended on the orders of the Commission.

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer of the State Amrit Abhijat said here that efforts would be made to retrieve the CDs related to Mr. Gandhi’s speeches and rallies delivered earlier in the constituency.

Notices were served on BJP State president Ramapati Ram Tripathi and Mr. Gandhi to show cause “as to why the party disregarded and violated the provisions of the model code of conduct.”

Replies sought

The Commission has made it clear that failure on their part to give a convincing reply “will invite further action.”

They were asked to submit their replies by 11 a.m. on March 20. While the Commission’s notice to Mr. Tripathi was served here, the notice to Mr. Gandhi was sent to the District Election Officer of Pilibhit.

The report of the Pilibhit DM sent to the Commission said, “Mr. Gandhi has violated the model code of conduct by inciting communal feelings through his speeches.”

Code violated

Mr. Abhijat said the Commission had admitted that the code was violated by Mr. Gandhi.

The cases filed at the behest of the Commission were separate from the FIR lodged by the police in the Barkhera police station on Tuesday.

Conviction under the relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act entails a maximum imprisonment of three years.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page