APJAC urges EC to take action against staff only after probe

Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Joint Action Committee-Amaravati (APJAC-Amaravati) and president of the Andhra Pradesh Revenue Services Association, Bopparaju Venkateswarlu, has voiced concerns regarding the Election Commission’s handling of baseless allegations against officials and staff involved in election duties. He emphasised the importance of conducting thorough inquiries before taking any actions against accused individuals.
During the ongoing general elections, political leaders have been levying numerous accusations against government officials and staff. In response to these complaints, the Election Commission has taken measures such as suspensions. To address these issues, Venkateswarlu and other leaders from APJAC-Amaravati met with Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Mukhesh Kumar Meena at the Secretariat on Friday, submitting a formal representation outlining their concerns.
Venkateswarlu highlighted the detrimental impact baseless complaints have had on government officials, leading to a loss of confidence among them during the election process.
He expressed dismay at the tendency of some political parties to target officials based on caste considerations, despite many complaints failing to substantiate any wrongdoing. This environment of unwarranted pressure has left officials and staff feeling vulnerable, he remarked.
In response to these challenges, Venkateswarlu urged the Election Commission to provide reassurance to officials that thorough inquiries will precede any disciplinary actions. He acknowledged the dedication of many officials working tirelessly to ensure the smooth conduct of elections, stressing the importance of addressing their grievances regarding baseless allegations.
Furthermore, Venkateswarlu appealed to the CEO to grant special casual leave for officials to cast their postal ballots at their respective assembly constituencies or facilitation centres. Additionally, he requested Meena to expedite the release of funds necessary for conducting elections.
The meeting was attended by APJAC secretary general P Damodar Rao, treasurer VV Murali Krishna Naidu, AP Revenue Services Association general secretary K Ramesh Kumar, and others.