EC Suspends IAS Officer For Violating Strict SPG Protocol During PM Modi’s Sambalpur Rally

Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday (17 April) suspended one of its officers for violation of Election protocol.

Mohammad Mohsin, an IAS officer from Karnataka was deputed as a general observer to Sambalpur to perform election duties. He was moved to headquarter after the incident and suspended until further as he was found disobeying panels instructions.

Mohsin tried to check the convoy of the Prime Minister after he landed to address a public meeting in Sambalpur. Instructions from the ECI panel recommend a strict protocol adherence before and while checking protectees under the protection of the Special Protection Group (SPG).

Following a report submitted by Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar, a senior official of ECI said: “the disciplinary action has been initiated against Mohsin for dereliction of duty.”

Also speaking on the incident Sambalpur district election officer and DIG of Sambalpur had also prima-facie found the action of the officer was in contravention of the guidelines.

The Election Commission of India is an independent constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India formed in 1950.