Nuapada by-poll: Presiding Officer Suspended for Violation of Voting Secrecy

Nuapada, 11 Nov: In connection with the ongoing Nuapada Assembly by-election, a Presiding Officer has been placed under immediate suspension for allegedly violating the secrecy of voting.

Dhananjay Mallik, a TGT teacher at Raja A.T. High School, Khadial, who was deployed as the Presiding Officer at Booth No. 36 in Kuliabantha, has been suspended by the order of District Collector and District Election Officer Madhusudan Das.

According to reports, the Presiding Officer was found to have acted in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and failed to maintain the secrecy of the ballot during the voting process. Following a preliminary inquiry, the district administration initiated swift action and issued the suspension order.

Taking the incident seriously, the Election Commission has reiterated that any election official found compromising the secrecy of the vote will face immediate disciplinary action, including suspension. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway.