Six officials suspended in Fatehgarh Churian for violating Model Code of Conduct
May 31, 2024
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 31 : The District Election Officer of Gurdaspur has suspended six employees, including the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Fatehgarh Churian, for failing to properly implement the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the Fatehgarh Churian region, which falls under the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, a release said.
Following a complaint from the Fatehgarh Churian MLA regarding the installation of interlocking tiles in a government park, an investigation was conducted. The complaint was found to be valid, prompting an immediate suspension of the involved officials.
The suspended employees are Pargat Singh (BDPO), Kuljinder Singh (Village Development Officer), Major Singh (Panchayat Secretary), and William Masih, Sukhjit Singh, and Shamsher Singh (all Gram Rojgar Sevaks).
A spokesperson from the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office confirmed the investigation's findings and mentioned that a notice had been issued to the District President (Rural) of Aam Aadmi Party Gurdaspur.
Additionally, a letter has been sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to register a case against the representatives responsible for the tile installation. The Director of Rural Development and Panchayats Department has been requested to take disciplinary action against Om Prakash (manager-cum-VDO, Kala Afgana) and Kuldeep Singh (Panchayat Secretary, Kala Afgana) for their failure to enforce the MCC.
Similarly, a case has been registered against Dilbagh Singh and Sukhwinder Singh on the complaint of distribution of cement benches in Baddowal Kalan village of Fatehgarh Churian.
CEO Sibin C appealed to all political parties and their representatives to ensure compliance with the MCC. He said that from the very first day of the implementation of the MCC, the entire administrative staff and the Police Department have been insisting that no code of conduct should be violated during the election campaign and to a large extent Punjab had been successful in this objective.
With polling just hours away, Sibin C appealed to all involved to ensure strict adherence to the MCC, aiming to set a positive example during this "festival of democracy." He also motivated election officers, employees, and security forces to uphold the MCC in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Voting for the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections and 42 assembly seats will conclude on June 1.
