Poll Code Violation: SEC Recommends Suspension Of College Principal, Salipur SDPO

The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday recommended the suspension of a college principal, along with a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), for allegedly violating guidelines by organising a political meeting despite enforcement of model code of conduct ahead of the three-tier Panchayat Elections in the State. 

The SEC has recommended the School and Mass Education Department to suspend Bikash Dash, the Principal of Tarini Mahavidyalaya (College) at Mahakalpada in Kendrapara district over poll code violation. This apart, the Election Commission has asked the district Collector to register a case against the principal under Section 188 of the IPC. 

Taking strong cognizance of presence of the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Salipur, Prasanta Majhi during the event, the SEC has recommended the Director General of Police (DGP) to immediately suspend the police officer and place him at the Police Headquarters. 

Both the recommendations have been made by the SEC based on a report by the Kendrapara district Collector. On Monday, a video showing a meeting being organised on the premises of the college went viral on social media platforms. Sources said the meeting was held to canvas for the elections to Gadamaricha Gram Panchayat. 

Even though the video showed hundreds of people participating in the meeting, SDPO Majhi claimed that it was a family function and denied any violation of the model code of conduct. Soon after the telecast of the news, the administration had ordered a probe into the incident.