Navi Mumbai Civic Chief Takes Legal Action Against Absent Election Officer
In a strong move to enforce election discipline, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioner and chief electoral officer, Dr Kailas Shinde, has initiated legal proceedings against a government engineer for failing to report for election duty. The action targets Cidco's Assistant Executive Engineer Mayur Angone, who was assigned as the zonal officer for the Nerul node.
FIR Registered Under Election Law
Authorities booked Angone under Section 134 of the Representation of the People Act, which covers breaches of official duty related to elections. This section applies to laws from 1950, 1951, and 1989, making it a serious legal matter. The case stems from Angone's continuous absence from his assigned election responsibilities.
Details of the Absence and Official Response
According to the FIR, Mayur Angone reported for election duty on January 1 after his appointment as zonal officer for the NMMC election. However, he subsequently failed to show up at the Agri Koli Bhawan in Nerul. Returning Officer Mohan Naladkar informed higher authorities about this persistent absence.
The NMMC administration issued a notice to Angone on January 3, directing him to resume his duties. Despite this official warning, he did not return to work. As a result, following directives from Dr Kailas Shinde, NMMC administrative officer Hemchandra Patil filed an FIR against Angone at the Nerul police station on January 8.
Broader Crackdown on Election Duty Defaulters
This incident is part of a larger effort by the NMMC to ensure compliance with election protocols. So far, the administration has served notices to 782 employees who missed election training programs. Dr Shinde has explicitly warned that similar legal action, including FIR registration, will be taken against any civic employees who breach their election duties.
The move highlights the strict enforcement of election laws in Navi Mumbai, emphasizing the importance of official responsibilities during electoral processes.
