The Election Commission of India has suspended Jyotsna Khatun, a joint block development officer and assistant returning officer in East Burdwan district, West Bengal, due to gross dereliction of duty. The suspension follows a directive from the ECI to the West Bengal Chief Secretary to take immediate action against Khatun. The Commission has requested a compliance report by April 4, 2026, at 11 a.m.
In response to the model code of conduct, the ECI clarified that the number of bureaucrats and police officers transferred was minimal compared to the large number transferred by the West Bengal government. Before the enforcement of the MCC, the state government had transferred 1,370 officers, including IAS and IPS officers. The ECI rectified this situation with a minimal number of transfers.
The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office emphasized the ECI’s zero tolerance policy for ensuring free, fair, and violence-free elections in the upcoming two-phase polls for the 294 Assembly constituencies in the state.
