Shimla, May 26 (PTI) Four polling officials deployed during the first phase of Panchayat elections in Shimla were suspended on Tuesday for alleged negligence during the voting process, officials said.
The officials, Presiding Officer Anil Kumar and Polling Officers Prakash Chand, Raj Kumar, and Ramesh Chand, were posted on polling duty at Polling Booth Brandli-1 in Ward No. 1 of Narain Gram Panchayat in Shimla district.
An official order regarding their suspension was issued on Tuesday by Anupam Kashyap, District Election Officer (DEO) and Shimla Deputy Commissioner.
The action came after a voter complaint that he had mistakenly stamped the NOTA option instead of voting for his desired candidate. An inquiry into the matter found that the NOTA rubber stamp was left inadvertently inside the voting compartment along with the officially designated arrow cross mark seal.
The inquiry also found that around 124 voters had already cast their votes, without being aware of the error, the officials said.
Taking immediate action, the voting was halted for a while, and the officials were suspended immediately, they said.
They have now been directed to report to the office of the Rampur Block Development Officer during their suspension period, until further orders. PTI/COR SHS
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