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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
EC suspends 4 Bengal officers, asks for FIRs
1 2 Kolkata: The Election Commission on Tuesday suspended four Bengal govt officers, including two electoral registration officers (EROs) and two assistant electoral registration officers (AEROs), asking chief secretary Manoj Pant to lodge FIRs against them and start disciplinary proceedings. Prima facie, the officers had erred in checking entry of bogus voters in voters' list, the commission said in its letter to Pant. Among the four are two WBCS (exe) officers of 2012 batch, who would be placed under suspension immediately "for grave lapses committed by them" and "for failure in supervising poll-related work". Pant has been instructed to start disciplinary proceedings against them without delay. The four include the EROs and AEROs of Baruipur East in South 24 Parganas and Moyna in East Midnapore, and FIRs will be lodged "for their actions, which potentially amount to criminal misconduct". You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Earlier, Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal sent his report on the wrongful addition of names by these EROs and AROs, stating that these officers "not only failed to perform duty as ERO and AERO while disposing of the names of the applications, but also violated the policy of data security while sharing their login credentials with unauthorised persons". The EC has also requested the lodging of an FIR against a data entry operator and instructed the Bengal chief secretary to comply with the directives and send an action taken report at the earliest. The commission has sought details of agencies hired for providing data entry operators. The commission's letter further stated that under Representation of the People Act, 1950, CEO, DEO, ERO, AERO and other officers or staff employed in connection with the preparation, revision and correction of electoral rolls for conduct of polls shall be deemed to be on deputation to the EC. The action against the erring officials was being taken under section 32 of the act, the letter added. A senior official said the four officials will have a black spot on their careers unless exonerated by the EC. He mentioned that earlier two DMs were removed by the EC, and it had requested departmental proceedings against them, but state govt did not start the proceedings. The EC is likely to take action against more poll officials for their negligence or gross violation of duty, the official added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Five suspended in West Bengal for voter data breach: Election Commission
Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed West Bengal Chief Secretary to suspend five persons, including a casual worker, and lodge FIRs against them-two Electoral Registration Office (ERO) and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO) for committing 'grave lapses' and 'failing to perform their duties', violating the policy of data security while sharing their login credentials of the ER database to unauthorised persons. Similar action will also be taken against a casual worker as well. The state Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has been directed to start departmental proceedings against them as well. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program 'The Commission has taken serious note of the grave lapses committed by the officers in view of the provisions quoted above and has decided that following action shall be taken against the officers with immediate effect,' the ECI wrote in the letter to the state Chief Secretary. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Become Fluent in Any Language Talkpal AI Undo 'The officers shall be placed under suspension for their failure in supervising the election related work, with immediate effect and suitable disciplinary proceedings be initiated against them without any delay,' the ECI directed. The EROs and AEROs from South 24 Parganas district's Baruipur-- Debottam Dutta Choudhury, WBCS (Exe.), a 2012 batch officer and Deputy Project Director (Monitoring). District Rural Development Cell, South 24 Parganas and ERO of 137-Baruipur Purba Assembly Constituency, Tathagata Mondal, Assistant Programme Officer, MGNREGS, Joynagar-1 Block and AERO of 137- Baruipur Purba AC; Biplab Sarkar, WBCS (Exe.), 2012 batch, presently working as District Officer Minority Affairs, Purba Medinipur and ERO of 206-Моупа Аssembly Constituency and Sudipta Das, Panchayat Accounts & Audit Officer, Tamluk Block and AERO of 206-Moyna AC, who have been suspended, the letter mentioned which has been seen by ET. Live Events Baruipur is in South 24 Parganas district while Moyna is located in East Midnapore district. The Eci has also directed that FIRs should be lodged against the 'erring EROs and AEROs for their actions, which potentially amount to criminal misconduct.' FIR shall also be lodged against the casual Data Entry Operator Surojit Halder, ECI said in its letter. The poll panel further directed that 'strict compliance of the above instructions shall be ensured and an action-taken report sent to the Commission at the earliest'. 'It has been reported that the said officers have not only failed to perform duty as ERO and AERO while disposing off the applications but also violated int policy of data security while sharing their login credentials of the ER database with unauthorized persons,' ECI secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra pointed out. In a letter to the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, ECI, has also pointed out that 'as per Sub-section (1) of Section 32, which inter-alia states that if any Electoral Registration Officer, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer or other person required by or under this Act to perform any official duty in connection with the preparation, revision or correction of an electoral toll or the inclusion of exclusion of any entry in or from that roll, is without reasonable cause, guilty of any act or omission in breach of such official duty, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to two years and with fine.' ECI said that the Chief Electoral Officer-West Bengal Manoj Agarwal had forwarded a report on July 29 about 'the wrongful addition of names in the electoral rolls by EROs and AEROs of AC No. 137 Baruipur and Purba district. The West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer's office has flagged major irregularities during sample checking of voters' lists in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts. According to sources in the know, a large number of 'fictitious voters' whose names were allegedly submitted and entered by two EROs without BLO verification was detected.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bengal govt extends UG admission deadline to August 5 after SC clears WBJEE under revised OBC list
Kolkata, India: The West Bengal government on Monday extended the deadline for admissions through the centralised admission portal for undergraduate courses in state-run and aided colleges for the 2025–26 academic session to August 5 (midnight). The admission portal, launched on July 17, initially faced challenges following a Calcutta High Court stay on the state's revised OBC list. However, the Supreme Court's order on July 28, which vacated the stay, cleared the path for the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) and college admissions under the updated OBC categories. In the wake of the SC verdict, the state's Higher Education Department enabled students to update or upload their social category details on the portal starting July 29. "The final deadline for submitting or updating social category details by candidates has been fixed as August 5 by 12 midnight, which can be done online at ," Chief Secretary Manoj Pant told reporters at the state secretariat. The earlier deadline was August 4. "Those who fail to update/provide their social category information in the portal within the stipulated time shall be considered in default as per prevailing rules. Candidates are also informed that no further requests for changes or updates of their details will be entertained once the aforementioned deadline has passed," the official said. The Higher Secondary examination results of the state board were published on May 7. Altogether, 460 state-run and state-aided colleges under 17 universities were included in the portal. (PTI) Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
WBJEE Results 2025: Govt extends UG admission portal deadline to Aug 5 amid OBC category update
The West Bengal government on Monday extended the deadline for admissions through the centralised admission portal for undergraduate courses in state-run and aided colleges for the 2025–26 academic session to August 5 (midnight). The admission portal, launched on July 17, initially faced challenges following a Calcutta High Court stay on the state's revised OBC list. However, the Supreme Court's order on July 28, which vacated the stay, cleared the path for the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) and college admissions under the updated OBC categories. In the wake of the SC verdict, the state's Higher Education Department enabled students to update or upload their social category details on the portal starting July 29. 'The final deadline for submitting or updating social category details by candidates has been fixed as August 5 by 12 midnight, which can be done online at ,' Chief Secretary Manoj Pant told reporters at the state secretariat. The earlier deadline was August 4. 'Those who fail to update/provide their social category information in the portal within stipulated time, shall be considered in default as per prevailing rules. Candidates are also informed that no further requests for changes or updates of their details will be entertained whatsoever once the aforementioned deadline is passed,' the official said. The higher secondary examination results of the state board were published on May 7. Altogether 460 state-run and state-aided colleges under 17 universities were included in the portal. Meanwhile, over three months after the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) was held, the Board on Thursday announced that the results are likely to be declared on August 7. The delay, the Board said, was due to legal proceedings surrounding the state's updated list of OBC sub-castes. 'The examinations were held on April 27. By June 5, the results would have been announced and steps were taken. But due to the OBC matter, it could not be announced,' WBJEE chairperson Sonali Chakraborty Banerjee said at a press conference. On July 29, the Calcutta High Court directed the state government and the WBJEE Board to submit affidavits by August 7 explaining the delay in publishing the results. The division bench, led by Justice Sujoy Paul, was hearing a petition filed by the guardian of a candidate who appeared for the exam in April.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
4.5 lakh register for ‘Amader Para Amader Samadhan'
Kolkata: Chief secretary Manoj Pant on Monday said over 4.5 lakh people have registered at various camps under the 'Amader Para Amader Samadhan' programme so far. The initiative, launched by the state govt on Aug 2, is aimed at taking the administration directly to the people and resolving grievances on spot. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the past two days, 4.5 lakh people visited 1,200 camps. On Monday, 590 camps were organised, drawing 2.51 lakh people participants. He noted that the needs of the people vary from booth to booth in some areas, people prioritise roads, while in others, streetlights are the main concern. Pant added that 'Duare Sarkar' camps are also being held alongside, with products from self-help groups (SHGs) on display. He stressed the govt is working actively on every front, including flood relief, resolution of public grievances, improving education and ensuring administrative transparency. He stated that the govt believes not just in making plans but in implementing them. Referring to recent floods, Pant said Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released a record volume of water in June and July — the highest in the past four years — without prior warning, triggering flood-like situations across districts. DMs in affected areas have been instructed to prioritise relief and rehabilitation, with the entire administrative machinery on alert. The entire administrative machinery is active at the district level, and the rescue operations are being monitored directly from Nabanna, he added.
