AGARTALA, May 14 (TIWN): The School Education department has framed charge against the presiding officer of a poling booth (Dwajanagar Anaganwadi Centre) on charge of ‘allowing’ malpractice in the process of polling on April 7, official sources confirmed here today.

The charge has been framed against the presiding officer following inputs from Addl CEO and Asst Returning Officer of Bishalgarh.

The department is likely to initiate proceeding of terminal benefits against the ‘accused’ presiding officer since he has already retired from the service.

While the department got the inputs from the Addl CEO and Asst Returning Officer on the misconduct in discharging duty by the presiding officer on April 26, he retired from the service on April 30.

“Since he has retired from the service on April 30, we can’t suspend him now. Well, the government will initiate proceeding of terminal benefits against him which will debar him of getting retirement benefits very shortly”, said a top bureaucrat in the Civil Secretariat here today.

Charge has already been framed against the presiding officer and the government will refer the matter to the inquiry authority to hear the case, he said.

The presiding officer has been charge with allowing poling agents to assist voters in the voting compartment on April 7, polling date for the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency following video footage and report from the Asst Returning Officer.

The incident has sparked uproar with oppositions demanding resignation of CEO Ashutosh Jindal for failing to ensure free and fair election two Lok Sabha constituencies.