Four polling officials have been suspended following allegations of failing to prevent external interference during voting at the residence of a 92-year-old woman at Kalliassery in Kannur district in Kerala. Kalliassery is part of the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency.
District Collector Arun K. Vijayan, who also serves as the District Election Officer, took action against the polling team members for their purported lapse in preventing the interference.
Those suspended include a special polling officer, polling assistant, micro-observer, special police officer, and videographer.
The suspension came after an official report was filed at the Kannapuram police station urging action against the individual who allegedly interfered in the voting.
The incident in question took place at booth 164 of Kalliassery panchayat, where it is claimed that the secrecy of the vote was compromised during polling at the residence of 92-year-old Devi at Edakkadan. Following an inquiry conducted by the constituency officer, action was taken against the pollqing officials.
In a report submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer, the District Collector highlighted the interference by an individual named Ganesan as a violation of Section 128(1) of the Representation of the People Act.
The report recommended both departmental action and a police investigation into the matter, citing a breach of Section 171(c) of the Indian Penal Code.
CEO issues warning
Lapses in facilitating ‘voting at home’ for senior citizens and persons with disabilities will not be tolerated, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Sanjay Kaul said in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
Mr. Kaul’s reminder to election officials came on the heels of suspension of five personnel following a complaint that the confidentiality of the voting process was compromised during the casting of a 92-year-old woman’s vote in Kannur district.
Mr. Kaul said his office was apprised of the incident on Thursday night, following which instructions were issued to the Kannur District Collector.
According to the CEO’s office, a man identified as Ganeshan, Kappodukavu, Anchampeedika, had interfered with the voting process. This is a violation of Section 128(1) of the Representation of the People Act. Following a complaint by the Assistant Returning Officer, Kannapuram police have registered an FIR under IPC Sections 171(C) and 171(F) and Section 128 of the Representation of the People Act.
Voters above 85 years of age and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) with 40% benchmark disability are availing the optional home voting facility.
