Jammu and Kashmir: Two Government Employees Suspended for Neglecting Election Duties in Udhampur

Two government employees in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district faced suspension on Monday due to alleged negligence in their duties, according to officials. Udhampur District Election Officer Saloni Rai took prompt action against Kulbushan Kumar and Jaswant Singh for failing to perform their election responsibilities, an official spokesperson stated.

Kulbushan Kumar, who served as the head assistant at the Dudu Zonal Education Office and was appointed as a Presiding Officer for the elections, was suspended for not attending mandatory training sessions. Despite several phone calls and formal notifications through his department head, Kumar did not report for duty, hindering essential election processes, the spokesperson explained.

Negligence in Election Duties

Kumar's absence was considered a severe violation of service conduct rules, amounting to intentional non-compliance, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Jaswant Singh, a primary schoolteacher at Kothi in Chenani, was appointed as a Booth Level Officer (BLO) for polling station Narsoo. He was suspended for neglecting his election-related duties.

Singh's responsibilities included managing part of the electoral roll, verifying its accuracy through door-to-door checks, and assisting voters on election day. However, he failed to meet these obligations and took unauthorised medical leave without proper approval, the spokesperson noted.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

A show-cause notice was issued to Singh, but his response was deemed unsatisfactory, leading to his immediate suspension. During this period, Singh will remain attached to the office of the Chief Education Officer in Udhampur. The swift disciplinary actions highlight the importance of adhering to assigned duties during critical election periods.