Archive · 26 Jan 2026
EC Suspends AERO Over Electoral Roll Irregularities
The Election Commission in India has suspended an officer named Sumitra Pratim Pradhan.
He is the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) and Block Development Officer (BDO) for Basirhat-II in West Bengal.
He was suspended because he appointed 11 additional AEROs without following the proper legal steps.
The law says these appointments must be formally notified, but he did not do that.
Because of this mistake, all the work done by these 11 officials is now considered invalid.
The Election Commission has ordered that all the hearings and work done by these officials must be redone correctly.
This is to make sure the electoral process is fair and follows the rules.
The Election Commission suspended Sumitra Pratim Pradhan, AERO and BDO of Basirhat-II, for unilaterally appointing 11 Additional AEROs without formal notification.
The appointments violated Section 13C of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
All actions and hearings conducted by the 11 officials were declared null and void.
The Election Commission ordered that all hearings and statutory work must be conducted afresh following correct legal procedures.
The suspension and nullification aim to ensure the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal.
- Who
- Sumitra Pratim Pradhan, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) and Block Development Officer (BDO) of Basirhat-II
- What
- Suspension by the Election Commission for violating electoral rules
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Basirhat, West Bengal
- Why
- Unilateral appointment of 11 Additional AEROs without formal notification, deemed a grave lapse and violation of statutory provisions
- Suspended Officer
- Sumitra Pratim Pradhan
- Position
- Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) and Block Development Officer (BDO) of Basirhat-II
- Violation
- Unilateral appointment of 11 Additional AEROs without formal notification
- Legal Basis
- Section 13C of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Consequence
- All actions and hearings by the 11 officials declared null and void
- Corrective Action
- All hearings and statutory work to be conducted afresh
- Location
- Basirhat, West Bengal