Dhamnagar, Oct. 1: Serious allegations have surfaced in Dhamnagar Notified Area Council (NAC) over the alleged misuse of Form-7 applications for deletion of names from the electoral rolls, with a written complaint lodged against NAC Executive Officer-cum-Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) Santosh Kumar Nayak at Dhamnagar police station.
The complaint, submitted to Dhamnagar police station officer Subhrajit Das, alleges that Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) were put under pressure and that voters’ one-time passwords (OTPs) were allegedly used to file Form-7 applications seeking deletion of names from the electoral rolls.
According to the complaint, some BLOs who insisted on conducting field verification as required under the prescribed procedure were allegedly threatened with show-cause notices and departmental action. It has also been alleged that six NAC officials working as supervisors exerted pressure on the BLOs in connection with the Form-7 applications.
Booth-wise data reportedly shows that as many as 1,468 Form-7 applications were filed across 10 polling booths. The complainants have sought an investigation into the devices — including mobile phones, computers or other digital devices — from which the applications were uploaded.
The allegations have triggered considerable discussion in Dhamnagar, particularly because they concern the integrity of the electoral roll revision process. However, the allegations contained in the police complaint are subject to verification by the police and the competent election authorities.
The issue had earlier also prompted complaints seeking registration of cases against the NAC Executive Officer. A fresh complaint against Nayak has now raised further questions over the manner in which Form-7 applications were handled during the electoral roll revision exercise.
Meanwhile, the housing and urban development department has suspended Nayak with immediate effect over allegations relating to dereliction of official duties. The department issued an order on September 28, bearing Order No. 27373, placing him under suspension pending disciplinary proceedings.
According to the departmental order, the action has been taken under Rule 12 of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962, as disciplinary proceedings against Nayak are under consideration.
During the period of suspension, Nayak’s headquarters will be at the office of the Project Director in Bhadrak. He has been directed not to leave the headquarters without the prior permission of the Project Director.
The suspension follows allegations that Nayak misused the identity cards, credentials and OTPs of BLOs and facilitated the filing and uploading of Form-7 applications for deletion of names from the electoral roll. The allegations had also led to demands for an impartial inquiry and re-verification of applications where voters had objected to deletion.
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