Nearly 1,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) in West Bengal have been issued show cause notices for failing to comply with election-related directives, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The notices allege that the officers did not register on the ERO-NET portal despite repeated instructions from Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
A senior official said, "According to the notices, such failures amount to wilful negligence and serious dereliction of duty under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which mandates that all officials appointed for electoral work must comply with instructions issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI)."
The show cause notices reminded BLOs that they are considered on deputation to the ECI during election duties and are therefore subject to its supervision and disciplinary control. Officers have been asked to explain within three days why disciplinary or penal action should not be taken against them for "wilful negligence" and "refusal of government order."
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The official added that non-respondents within the stipulated period would be deemed to have no valid justification, and appropriate action would follow under law and departmental rules.
Election officials have stressed that compliance with ECI directives is critical to ensuring smooth electoral preparations and accurate voter lists, particularly as assembly elections and other key polls approach in the state.
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