Ten Jalna Booth-Level Officers Face Legal Action for Neglecting Election Duties
In a significant development from Maharashtra's Jalna district, ten booth-level officers (BLOs) have been formally booked under Section 234 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 134 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The legal action stems from allegations that these officials wilfully neglected their election-related responsibilities for the 101 Jalna assembly constituency, failing to join duty despite multiple directives.
FIR Registered on Tehsil Employee's Complaint
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered in Jalna based on a complaint filed by Vishnupant Ghughe, a 50-year-old employee at the Jalna tehsil office. Ghughe was specifically authorised by the tehsildar and assistant electoral registration officer through a written order issued on Friday to initiate legal proceedings against the errant officials. This authorisation underscores the seriousness with which the electoral authorities are treating the alleged negligence.
Directive Issued for Voter List Verification
According to the complaint, the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra had issued a crucial directive on March 3, 2026. This directive assigned BLOs the responsibility of verifying unclear, distorted, and non-human photographs in the electoral roll. Additionally, they were tasked with completing other time-bound assignments related to the ongoing revision of the voter list. These duties are essential for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process.
Repeated Communications and Absences
Despite being officially appointed as BLOs and receiving a direct order dated March 20 to report for duty, the accused officials allegedly failed to join work. The tehsil office made concerted efforts to secure their compliance, issuing multiple communications on January 29, February 5, and March 4, 5, 6, 11, and 20. These communications explicitly asked the BLOs to attend scheduled meetings and take charge of their assigned duties. However, they remained consistently absent, showing no response to these repeated calls.
Ignoring Show-Cause Notices and Review Meeting
Officials stated that the BLOs also skipped a critical review meeting held on Friday, further exacerbating the situation. Moreover, they did not respond to show-cause notices that were issued specifically for their unexplained absences. The complaint highlighted that no explanation was submitted by the BLOs, nor did they make any effort to report for duty, indicating a pattern of deliberate neglect.
Impact on Election Processes
The continued absence of these ten BLOs has had a tangible and detrimental impact on several key election processes. Important tasks that were stalled include:
- SIR 2002 verification work
- Online mapping activities
- DSE processes within and across parts
- The disposal of Forms 6, 7, and 8, which are related to voter enrolment, deletion, and correction
These delays have drawn strong displeasure from the district collector and district election officer, who have repeatedly directed that the pending work be completed within the stipulated timeline to ensure the electoral process remains on track.
Legal Implications and Police Action
Police officials, citing the content of the complaint, noted that by deliberately avoiding their assigned responsibilities, the accused BLOs obstructed crucial election work. This obstruction prompted the registration of the FIR under the relevant legal provisions. The charges under Section 234 of the BNS and Section 134 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, reflect the legal gravity of neglecting election duties, which are fundamental to democratic functioning.
The case underscores the importance of accountability in electoral administration, especially as preparations for the 101 Jalna assembly constituency continue. Authorities are emphasizing that such negligence will not be tolerated, and legal measures will be enforced to uphold the integrity of the election process.
