HYDERABAD: Vikarabad collector Syed Omar Jaleel was once suspended on Saturday by way of the state government for violating the Election Commission (EC) regulations.
“The unauthorised opening of an electronic voting system (EVM) warehouse and clearing of poll data of some EVMs of an Assembly (Vikarabad) constituency which is under Election Petition (EP) by way of Omar Jaleel, DEO Vikarabad, is a transparent and egregious violation of the extant regulations and instructions of the Commission,” the ECI said in its order.
The EC has directed the Telangana government to droop Vikarabad collector Jaleel with rapid impact. Based on the directions, the government on Saturday afternoon placed the collector under suspension, while Rangareddy collector Lokesh Kumar has been made incharge.
‘Opened EVMs for preparation for LS elections’
The Election Commission acted based on studies from the state election authorities following a criticism from Telangana Congress leaders. Congress leaders, together with party candidate from Vikarabad Gaddam Prasad, had complained that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used within the Vikarabad constituency within the contemporary meeting elections were opened by way of the officials and the Vikarabad district collector-cum-district election officer on February 1, 2019, without permission of the EC with an purpose to tamper with the devices.
The Congress candidate, who misplaced from Vikarabad meeting constituency, had alleged that as many as 150 EVMs and VVPATs were opened. The EC took serious view of opening of EVMs, particularly when there was once a case pending within the High Court on irregularities in elections together with tampering with EVMs during polling.
Official sources said there was once an EC order and prescribed regulations to not open EVMs and VVPATS of an meeting constituency when there was once a case pending sooner than courts. However, in step with authorities, the DEO violated the rules and opened the EVMs and VVPATs.
Based on the criticism lodged by way of Congress leaders, the collector was once requested to offer an explanation. He reportedly instructed the EC that he opened EVMs as a part of preparation for the approaching Lok Sabha elections and was once now not acutely aware of any case pending in court. The EC, now not satisfied with the explanation presented by way of the collector, ordered his suspension.
Interestingly, Vikarabad superintendent of police Annapurna was once shunted out simply sooner than polling on the orders of the High Court and EC after police detained Kodangal Congress candidate A Revanth Reddy. The EC had then directed the state officials to not given Annapurna any election-related tasks. However, the government introduced her again as SP after TRS returned to energy.
“The unauthorised opening of an electronic voting system (EVM) warehouse and clearing of poll data of some EVMs of an Assembly (Vikarabad) constituency which is under Election Petition (EP) by way of Omar Jaleel, DEO Vikarabad, is a transparent and egregious violation of the extant regulations and instructions of the Commission,” the ECI said in its order.
The EC has directed the Telangana government to droop Vikarabad collector Jaleel with rapid impact. Based on the directions, the government on Saturday afternoon placed the collector under suspension, while Rangareddy collector Lokesh Kumar has been made incharge.
‘Opened EVMs for preparation for LS elections’
The Election Commission acted based on studies from the state election authorities following a criticism from Telangana Congress leaders. Congress leaders, together with party candidate from Vikarabad Gaddam Prasad, had complained that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used within the Vikarabad constituency within the contemporary meeting elections were opened by way of the officials and the Vikarabad district collector-cum-district election officer on February 1, 2019, without permission of the EC with an purpose to tamper with the devices.
The Congress candidate, who misplaced from Vikarabad meeting constituency, had alleged that as many as 150 EVMs and VVPATs were opened. The EC took serious view of opening of EVMs, particularly when there was once a case pending within the High Court on irregularities in elections together with tampering with EVMs during polling.
Official sources said there was once an EC order and prescribed regulations to not open EVMs and VVPATS of an meeting constituency when there was once a case pending sooner than courts. However, in step with authorities, the DEO violated the rules and opened the EVMs and VVPATs.
Based on the criticism lodged by way of Congress leaders, the collector was once requested to offer an explanation. He reportedly instructed the EC that he opened EVMs as a part of preparation for the approaching Lok Sabha elections and was once now not acutely aware of any case pending in court. The EC, now not satisfied with the explanation presented by way of the collector, ordered his suspension.
Interestingly, Vikarabad superintendent of police Annapurna was once shunted out simply sooner than polling on the orders of the High Court and EC after police detained Kodangal Congress candidate A Revanth Reddy. The EC had then directed the state officials to not given Annapurna any election-related tasks. However, the government introduced her again as SP after TRS returned to energy.
Collector suspended for cleaning up data of EVMs
![Collector suspended for cleaning up data of EVMs]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 10, 2019
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