The Election Commission of India clarified that district magistrates in West Bengal, who also serve as district electoral officers, do not have the power to question micro-observers appointed by the Commission for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise. This clarification was given during a virtual meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by various officials including the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer.
One official from the CEO’s office mentioned that a specific district magistrate was cautioned for allegedly seeking explanations from micro-observers without the authority to do so. The Chief Election Commissioner emphasized that such actions were beyond the district magistrate’s jurisdiction and any violations should be reported directly to the ECI headquarters in New Delhi.
The Commission reportedly criticized seven district magistrates for breaching guidelines related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal. The districts whose officials faced criticism include Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, and East Burdwan.
CEC issued a general warning to all district magistrates, cautioning them about possible disciplinary actions for any negligence in duty. Such actions could impact their career progression and annual confidential reports, as highlighted during the meeting.
