The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken strong exception to the West Bengal government’s handling of disciplinary proceedings against four election-related officials. The poll body stated that
mandatory procedures were violated and the Commission was not consulted before final decisions were taken. The matter relates to alleged irregularities during electoral processes, following which the ECI, in an order dated August 5, 2025, had directed the state government to suspend the concerned Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), initiate appropriate departmental proceedings, and register FIRs against erring officials, including a contractual data entry operator. The directions invoked 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 official — Tathagata Mondal, AERO of Baruipur Purba Assembly Constituency — had been exonerated, while another official, Sudipta Das, AERO of Moyna Assembly Constituency, had been awarded a minor penalty. In a letter dated January 21, 2026, the ECI stated that these decisions were taken without prior consultation with the Commission, in violation of its standing instructions issued on May 31, 2023, which make such consultation mandatory before closure or finalisation of disciplinary proceedings recommended by the Commission. Terming the disciplinary action as procedurally irregular and “non est”, the ECI has rejected the finalisation of the proceedings and directed the state to reconsider the matter strictly in accordance with its guidelines. The Commission has sought written explanations from the responsible officers or departments and has asked for complete disciplinary records relating to all four officials — Tathagata Mondal, Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Biplab Sarkar, and Sudipta Das. The Election Commission has asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary to submit the required explanations and documents by 5:00 pm on January 24, 2026, for further consideration by the Commission.
