ECI asks action against Odisha IPS officer, lifts suspension of another

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has recommended action against Odisha state IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh for “misrepresenting facts” about his health condition, while quashing the suspension order against another senior police officer, DS Kutey.

In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, the ECI said that the report of the special medical committee of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, had declared Mr. Singh, a 2010 batch IPS officer, physically and mentally fit.

He has been on leave for health reasons since May 4.

While Mr Kutey, the special secretary to the Odisha chief minister, was suspended by the ECI on May 28 for “undue interference in the conduct of the election”, the commission had ordered a medical examination of Mr Singh by a special medical panel at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

“The Commission has prima facie found that this is a case of misrepresentation of facts on the part of Sri Asish Kumar Singh, IPS and directed that the report of the Special Medical Board, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, be forwarded to the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha for taking necessary action against the officer,” the ECI’s letter to the Odisha CEO said.

The ECI said Mr Kutey’s suspension should be lifted with immediate effect, provided that the other instructions contained in the letter dated 28 May continue to apply.

Any internal departmental procedure can only be decided with the approval of the Commission, the letter dated 6 June stated.

Mr Kutey could report to the chief secretary for further assignments if necessary, it said.

Earlier, the ECI, while suspending Mr Kutey for undue interference in the conduct of the election, had said, “His headquarters is at the office of the Resident Commissioner Odisha in New Delhi, where he will report on May 29 at 3:00 p.m.”

“The Chief Election Officer of Odisha will submit the draft chargesheet against Kutey to the Chief Secretary of Odisha and the Chief Secretary of Odisha will prepare the chargesheet as per relevant service rules by 5:00 pm on May 30.”

Similarly, the ECI had directed Mr Singh to undergo a detailed medical examination by a special medical panel constituted by the director of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and said that a report on his illness and treatment should be submitted to the commission by May 31.

The elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly of the State of Odisha were held in four phases between 13 May and 1 June.