An assistant electoral registration officer appointed for the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been suspended for allegedly remaining absent from duty without permission in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Saturday (August 1, 2026).

The Palghar administration, in a release, said that Gopal Chaudhari, group education officer of the Vasai Panchayat Samiti, repeatedly failed to perform his designated tasks for the 132-Nalasopara constituency.

After he was appointed the assistant electoral registration officer, Chaudhari remained absent from duty without prior intimation or permission from the competent authority and did not carry out any work related to the SIR programme, it stated.

It alleged that his negligence, lack of attention, delay in work and dereliction of duty adversely affected election-related work in the constituency.

Taking serious note of the matter, Palghar District Collector and District Election Officer ordered disciplinary action under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the release said.

The SIR is a crucial and time-bound exercise of the ECI, the administration said, warning that negligence, laxity, delay or dereliction of duty in the programme would not be tolerated.

Published - August 01, 2026 11:15 am IST