The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken strong exception to the manner in which the West Bengal government handled disciplinary proceedings against four officials connected with the electoral process, rejecting the state’s actions and directing it to submit a fresh report by January 24, 2026.
In a sharply worded communication dated January 21, the Commission said mandatory procedures were violated and its prior consultation was completely bypassed before final decisions were taken by the state government. The ECI underlined that such consultation is compulsory under its standing instructions and any deviation from this framework renders the disciplinary action invalid in law.
The matter pertains to alleged irregularities during electoral processes in certain Assembly constituencies of West Bengal. Acting on complaints and inputs received during the course of its supervisory role, the ECI, in an order dated August 5, 2025, had directed the state government to take strict action against the concerned officials.
The Commission had ordered the suspension of the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) involved, initiation of departmental proceedings against them, and registration of FIRs against erring officials, including a contractual data entry operator. These directions were issued by invoking provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Subsequently, the West Bengal government informed the Commission that one of the officials, Tathagata Mondal, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of Baruipur Purba Assembly Constituency, had been exonerated of all charges. Another official, Sudipta Das, AERO of Moyna Assembly Constituency, was awarded a minor penalty.
The ECI, however, found these developments unacceptable. In its January 21 letter, the Commission stated that the decisions to exonerate one official and impose a minor penalty on another were taken unilaterally, without seeking the Commission’s views, despite explicit instructions to do so.
The poll body referred to its standing instructions dated May 31, 2023, which clearly mandate consultation with the ECI before closure or finalisation of any disciplinary proceedings that were initiated on the Commission’s recommendation. Ignoring this requirement, the Commission said, amounted to a serious procedural lapse.
Terming the state government’s actions “procedurally irregular” and “non est”, the ECI categorically rejected the finalisation of the disciplinary proceedings. It directed the West Bengal government to reconsider the entire matter strictly in accordance with the Commission’s guidelines and statutory framework.
The Commission’s order makes it clear that disciplinary proceedings linked to electoral integrity are not routine departmental matters and cannot be concluded at the discretion of the state government without keeping the constitutional authority of the ECI in the loop.
The Commission has sought complete disciplinary records relating to all four officials involved in the case. These include Tathagata Mondal, Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Biplab Sarkar, and Sudipta Das. The ECI has also asked for written explanations from the officers or departments responsible for taking decisions without consulting the Commission.
According to the ECI, these records and explanations are essential to assess whether its earlier directions were complied with in letter and spirit, and whether further action is required to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The Election Commission has directed the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit all relevant documents, records, and written explanations by 5 pm on January 24, 2026. The Commission said the matter will be examined further only after receipt of the complete report and disciplinary files.
