West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stated that the seven officials recently suspended by the Election Commission will not be dismissed from service. Speaking at a press conference at Nabanna, Mamata Banerjee clarified that while the officers will be removed from election-related duties, they will continue to work in other administrative roles.
The controversy began after the Election Commission of India suspended seven state officials associated with the SIR process in the state.
The Commission accused the officers of misconduct, dereliction of duty, and misuse of power. Although a letter was reportedly sent to the state government directing action, the Commission proceeded with the suspensions directly.
All seven officials were serving as Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs): Satyajit Das, AERO, Canning East, South 24 Parganas; Joydeep Kundu, AERO, Canning East, South 24 Parganas; Dalia Roychowdhury, AERO, Mainaguri, Jalpaiguri; Shefaur Rahman, AERO, Shamsherganj, Murshidabad; Nitish Das, AERO, Farakka; Sheikh Murshid Alam, AERO, Suti; and ARO of Debra (Name not released in official communication).
These officials were removed from their electoral duties by the EC, though they remain in government service.
Responding to the decision, Banerjee questioned the rationale behind the suspensions, asking what specific violations the officials had committed.