West Bengal Suspends Four Officers Following Election Commission Directive
Kolkata, 22nd August 2025: In partial compliance with the Election Commission (EC), the West Bengal government on Thursday suspended four state officers by the August 21 deadline set by the poll panel.
However, no First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against them.
The EC had directed the state to suspend the officers and a data entry operator, register an FIR, and initiate disciplinary proceedings, citing lapses that led to the inclusion of bogus voters in the electoral rolls. The state government had earlier requested the EC to reconsider what it termed a “disproportionately harsh” recommendation, but the commission insisted on strict adherence to its orders. Two of the suspended officers belong to the West Bengal Civil Service executive cadre.
State Chief Secretary Manoj Pant informed the EC on Thursday about the action taken so far.
The dispute between the EC and the state began on August 5, when the commission sought action against two EROs (Election Returning Officers) and AEROs (Assistant EROs) from Moyna in East Midnapore and Baruipur East in South 24 Parganas for alleged lapses in supervising election duties. In response, the West Bengal government removed an AERO and the data entry operator from poll duty and launched an internal probe into the matter.
“While the state was conducting a fresh investigation into the officers’ conduct, the EC made it clear that its directive must be implemented by August 21,” said an official familiar with the matter. “Failure to comply could be seen as insubordination.”
Chief Secretary Pant had met with EC officials in New Delhi on August 13 to explain the state’s stance. He stated that the fresh probe was necessary because the state considered the EC’s orders excessively severe. The commission, however, insisted that the suspensions proceed within the stipulated timeframe.
Legal experts noted that the EC has the authority under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, as well as penal laws, to act against officers for lapses in official duties and to file FIRs independently.
