CHANDIGARH: The State Election Commission, Punjab Tuesday postponed the elections to nineteen Gram Panchayats in five districts, which were scheduled to be held on 26th May 2008 in the state and ordered to remove six election officers. Election Commission had already postponed poll in 277 gram Panchayats.

Disclosing this here Tuesday a spokesman of the State Election Commission, Punjab said that the polls to Gram Panchayat Talwara in Ludhiana district is countermanded and fresh date for polls would be notified separately. Besides the elections to Gram Panchayats Daulatpura and Sularpur in Jalandhar district were also postponed. In Tarntarn district 13 Gram Panchayats namely Baikan, Baikan Khurd, Tatle, Sugga, Bua Patti, Abadi Bhagwanpur, Balher, Blehar Khurd, Saddra, Kale, Marri Kamboke, Marri Udoke and Darajke, in district Sangrur Gram Panchayat Mohala and Jhundan and Gram Panchayat Saidoke in district Moga were also postponed and fresh date for polls would be notified separately.

 The Eelction Commission in the case of Gram Panchayat Talwara in Ludhiana district has ordered to remove Shri Amarjit Singh Returning Officer and directed the Additional District Electoral Officer, Ludhiana to send a panel of three names for the selection of the Returning Officer.  Further, Shri Amarjit Singh has been suspended for dereliction of election duty and disciplinary action initiated against him. The Commission has also concluded that Shri Gurlavleen Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Jagraon has failed to discharge his duties and shown a careless and negligent attitude even when the complaint was referred to him by the State Election Commission.

The Commission on the report of the Election Observer regarding Gram Panchayat Mohaala in District Sangrur, has removed both the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer and the District Electoral Officer, Sangrur has been directed to lodge a FIR to fix responsibility in the matter alleged tampering. The disciplinary action would also be taken against both the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.

He added that the Commission has also recommended to postpone the panchayat elections of Village Jhudan in District Sangrur and the Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur has been directed to lodge FIR with the police as per the recommendations of the Observer to fix responsibility for tampering of the police record and further the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer has been immediately removed. The disciplinary action would be taken against both the Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.

He said that the Commission, in the case of Gram Panchayat Saidoke, has removed the Returning Officer block Nihal Singh Wala District Moga who has acted in extremely irresponsible and illegal manner and directed the District Electoral Officer Moga that disciplinary action for imposition of major penalty be initiated against him.  Further action in this behalf may be taken under intimation to the Commission.