RO slams cops for ‘utter disobeyance’, ‘lackadaisical attitude’ during counting
| Date :26-May-2019 |
Staff Reporter;
Forwards his report on the incidents to Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India; Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra; and Nodal Officer (Law and Order), Maharashtra
Though the Kalamna Police have booked Congress candidate Nana Patole, Adv Abhijeet Wanjari, and others for creating scene in two incidents at the counting centre in Kalamna market yard on May 23, the Returning Officer (RO) has also slammed cops on-duty for ‘utter disobeyance’ and ‘lackadaisical attitude’ in his report on the incidents. Ashwin Mudgal, District Collector and Returning Officer for Nagpur constituency of Lok Sabha, has forwarded his report on the incidents to Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India; Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra; and Nodal Officer (Law and Order), Maharashtra. In the report, he has recommended to bring to book the persons responsible for misconduct and has also sought ‘suitable disciplinary action on the officers who did not respond to the directions of the Returning Officer and ECI Observer to prevent the situation.’
As per the report, the first of the two incidents took place when the Returning Officer (RO) was monitoring the counting of postal ballots near his table in presence of Counting Observer of Election Commission of India (ECI). Patole and 20-25 unauthorised persons entered the place ‘without being stopped at the gate of the RO table’.
“The duty officer and other police staff deputed to guard the entrance were not able to prevent this unauthorised entry,” states the report. The RO and ECI Observer directed the police officer in-charge of counting -- Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-V) -- to remove the unauthorised persons. “However, in utter disobeyance to the lawful directions issued by RO under conduct of election rules, neither the unauthorised persons paid heed to the directions issued by RO not the duty officer reported to RO and removed those persons,” Mudgal stated in the report.
Mudgal added that when no police officer reported, the RO himself had to issue a warning to all unauthorised persons to leave the place under provisions of Rule 53(4) of Conduct of Election Rules. “This incident also shows lackadaisical attitude on part of in-charge of the security for counting centre and duty officer posted there to prevent any mis-happening during the sensitive process of counting and tabulation,” he stated. The second incident took place at VVPAT counting booth compartment for Nagpur East Assembly Segment.
As per the RO’s report, more than authorised number of counting agents and Patole himself were present. When the RO asked only the authorised agents to stay, one of Patole’s counting agents Adv Abhijeet Wanjari raised slogan ‘Collector Murdabad’, it is stated in the report. However, ‘to the utter surprise of all the officials present at VVPAT counting booth’, Patole threatened the officials present there including ECI Observer and Returning Officer ‘of dire consequences’. When the RO summoned the duty officer posted outside the gate, ‘no duty officer reported there to RO to prevent the possible threat to law and order inside the counting hall’, Mudgal stated. Pointing out that elections to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly were due in coming months, Mudgal requested to the ECI to ‘thoroughly analyse’ the ‘evil and nefarious design and modus operandi’ of these incidents. This should be done, he stated, “so that the instigators, abettors and perpetrators can be prosecuted’ before the model code of conduct for Assembly polls came into force.