Observers being closely monitored: Election Commission of India- looking into the functioning of the GTA run by a nominated body

‘If required, we will not hesitate in taking steps against them’

EC has appointed a total 209 general observers, 55 police observers and 85 expenditure observers in Bengal.: Shutterstock

TT  |   Siliguri   |   25.03.21: The Election Commission of India (EC) is keeping a close watch over the functioning of observers engaged to monitor the upcoming Assembly elections to be held in Bengal and three other states, as well as Puducherry.

In all, the EC has appointed a total 209 general observers, 55 police observers and 85 expenditure observers in Bengal.

“I would like to submit that even the observers are being observed. They are quite closely monitored by the commission and the special observer. If required, we will not hesitate in taking steps against the observers,” Sunil Arora, the chief election commissioner of India told newsmen here on Wednesday.

Arora, who headed a six-member EC team, reached here on Tuesday afternoon to oversee preparations of the district administrations of the eight districts of north Bengal.

They held meetings with administrative officials of these districts in presence of senior police officers and bureaucrats of the state.

Arora said  that on March 22, a complaint was received against one of the general observers for misbehaving with a government official.

“Couple of days’ back, some incident pertaining to one general observer was brought to the notice of EC by the CEO and additional CEO (of a state) for inappropriate behaviour with a lady officer. On March 22, he was removed with immediate effect and on the same day afternoon, he was sent back. Not only that, the commission has gone through details of the incident and instructed that he should be placed immediately under suspension and a charge sheet be prepared against him,” said Arora.

Asked on a regional issue, the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) run by a nominated body with Anit Thapa, a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader as its chairperson, Arora maintained they are looking into it. “It was brought to our notice when we were reviewing (the poll preparations) of Darjeeling district. I have told the CEO to send us a detailed report to Sudeep Jain, the deputy election commissioner. We have also spoken with the chief secretary and have asked him to take similar steps,” he said.

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/west-bengal-assembly-elections-2021-observers-being-closely-monitored-by-the-commission-and-special-observer-election-commission-of-india/cid/1810569)