April 13, 2026

NEW DELHI: Taking exception to Bengal govt’s decision to unilaterally exonerate Baruipur Purba assembly constituency assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) Tathagata Mondal and impose only a minor penalty against Moyna AC AERO Sudipta Das — despite clear instructions by Election Commission (dated 05.08.2025) to suspend and initiate disciplinary proceedings against them — EC Wednesday asked the state chief secretary to get the competent authority to submit to the commission a written explanation for the “procedural lapse”.The explanation — sought by 5pm on Jan 24 — must detail the circumstances that led to non-compliance with the commission’s instructions, which had mandated that disciplinary authorities shall consult EC before closing or finalising any matter arising out of disciplinary proceedings initiated on the poll panel’s recommendation.“Since the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised without adherence to the prescribed procedure and without mandatory consultation with the Commission, the Commission does not accept such finalisation of disciplinary action. Accordingly, the same shall be treated as procedurally irregular and non est in the eyes of the Commission, warranting reconsideration,” EC said in the letter sent to the state chief secretary.As part of the explanation sought by EC, the competent authority has been asked to furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, file notings and all other relevant records forming the basis of the disciplinary action taken in respect of four officials, namely Tathagata Mondal, Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Biplab Sarkar and Sudipta Das.The commission had directed the state govt to suspend and initiate suitable disciplinary proceedings against the EROs/AEROs concerned and lodge FIRs against the erring officials, including the contractual data entry operator, under Section 32 of the RP Act, 1950, read with the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Information Technology Act, 2000. Sources said they were allegedly disposing of applications for inclusion in the electoral roll without proper verification or allowing a window for filing claims and objections.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Makes No Sense…” Ex-US Army Officer Slams Trump Over India-US RelationsUK, EU FTAs to Unlock New Export Opportunities for Assam Tea: Himanta Sarma’Rupture In World Order’: EU Blasts Trump Over ‘Bullying’; Danish MP Fires Shock Message For US PresOperation Prahar: Punjab Police Raid Locations Linked to 60 Foreign GangstersIndia Will Surpass Japan To Become 3rd Largest Economy: Gita Gopinath At World Economic Forum 2026Democracy Took Roots In India In 600 BC, Long Before The World: CEC Gyanesh KumarExplained: Why India-EU ‘Mother Of All Deals’ Matters As Trade Talks Enter Final High Stakes PhasePakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut Outlet, Trolled on Social Media’Influencers, AI And Deepfakes’: Indian Army Exposes Pakistan’s Digital War During Operation SindoorIndus Waters Flashpoint: Pakistan Cries Crisis At UN As India Hardens Terror Stance Post Pahalgam123Photostories’Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge’: A quick recap of Part 1 before Ranveer Singh’s teaser dropsFrom ‘Naagzilla’ to ‘The Odyssey’: The much-awaited fantasy movies releasing in 2026How to make Dhaba-Style Amritsari Paneer Bhurji for dinner at homeNot just the Beckhams: 5 famous family feuds that shocked the worldUnseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh KhannaLaughter Chefs Season 3 to bring major changes: OG Arjun Bijlani, Ankita Lokhande–Vicky Jain return as Team Kaanta vs Churi endsJapanese Ambassador relishes biryani with bare hands: 6 times global leaders have shown love for Indian food10 Asian cities with the longest commute time to work2 Indian chicken dishes among top 17 in the worldDaily practices you can do for planetary balance123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordTravis KelceDonald Trump PlaneUdaipur Car AccidentJonathan KumingaCandace OwensDonna KelceJohn Harbaughs WifeKlay ThompsonsAshwini Vaishnaw

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NEW DELHI: Taking exception to Bengal govt’s decision to unilaterally exonerate Baruipur Purba assembly constituency assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) Tathagata Mondal and impose only a minor penalty against Moyna AC AERO Sudipta Das — despite clear instructions by Election Commission (dated 05.08.2025) to suspend and initiate disciplinary proceedings against them — EC Wednesday asked the state chief secretary to get the competent authority to submit to the commission a written explanation for the “procedural lapse”.The explanation — sought by 5pm on Jan 24 — must detail the circumstances that led to non-compliance with the commission’s instructions, which had mandated that disciplinary authorities shall consult EC before closing or finalising any matter arising out of disciplinary proceedings initiated on the poll panel’s recommendation.“Since the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised without adherence to the prescribed procedure and without mandatory consultation with the Commission, the Commission does not accept such finalisation of disciplinary action. Accordingly, the same shall be treated as procedurally irregular and non est in the eyes of the Commission, warranting reconsideration,” EC said in the letter sent to the state chief secretary.As part of the explanation sought by EC, the competent authority has been asked to furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, file notings and all other relevant records forming the basis of the disciplinary action taken in respect of four officials, namely Tathagata Mondal, Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Biplab Sarkar and Sudipta Das.The commission had directed the state govt to suspend and initiate suitable disciplinary proceedings against the EROs/AEROs concerned and lodge FIRs against the erring officials, including the contractual data entry operator, under Section 32 of the RP Act, 1950, read with the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Information Technology Act, 2000. Sources said they were allegedly disposing of applications for inclusion in the electoral roll without proper verification or allowing a window for filing claims and objections.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Makes No Sense…” Ex-US Army Officer Slams Trump Over India-US RelationsUK, EU FTAs to Unlock New Export Opportunities for Assam Tea: Himanta Sarma’Rupture In World Order’: EU Blasts Trump Over ‘Bullying’; Danish MP Fires Shock Message For US PresOperation Prahar: Punjab Police Raid Locations Linked to 60 Foreign GangstersIndia Will Surpass Japan To Become 3rd Largest Economy: Gita Gopinath At World Economic Forum 2026Democracy Took Roots In India In 600 BC, Long Before The World: CEC Gyanesh KumarExplained: Why India-EU ‘Mother Of All Deals’ Matters As Trade Talks Enter Final High Stakes PhasePakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut Outlet, Trolled on Social Media’Influencers, AI And Deepfakes’: Indian Army Exposes Pakistan’s Digital War During Operation SindoorIndus Waters Flashpoint: Pakistan Cries Crisis At UN As India Hardens Terror Stance Post Pahalgam123Photostories’Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge’: A quick recap of Part 1 before Ranveer Singh’s teaser dropsFrom ‘Naagzilla’ to ‘The Odyssey’: The much-awaited fantasy movies releasing in 2026How to make Dhaba-Style Amritsari Paneer Bhurji for dinner at homeNot just the Beckhams: 5 famous family feuds that shocked the worldUnseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh KhannaLaughter Chefs Season 3 to bring major changes: OG Arjun Bijlani, Ankita Lokhande–Vicky Jain return as Team Kaanta vs Churi endsJapanese Ambassador relishes biryani with bare hands: 6 times global leaders have shown love for Indian food10 Asian cities with the longest commute time to work2 Indian chicken dishes among top 17 in the worldDaily practices you can do for planetary balance123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordTravis KelceDonald Trump PlaneUdaipur Car AccidentJonathan KumingaCandace OwensDonna KelceJohn Harbaughs WifeKlay ThompsonsAshwini Vaishnaw


EC seeks WB reply for defying its order against poll officers

NEW DELHI: Taking exception to Bengal govt’s decision to unilaterally exonerate Baruipur Purba assembly constituency assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) Tathagata Mondal and impose only a minor penalty against Moyna AC AERO Sudipta Das — despite clear instructions by Election Commission (dated 05.08.2025) to suspend and initiate disciplinary proceedings against them — EC Wednesday asked the state chief secretary to get the competent authority to submit to the commission a written explanation for the “procedural lapse”.The explanation — sought by 5pm on Jan 24 — must detail the circumstances that led to non-compliance with the commission’s instructions, which had mandated that disciplinary authorities shall consult EC before closing or finalising any matter arising out of disciplinary proceedings initiated on the poll panel’s recommendation.“Since the disciplinary proceedings have been finalised without adherence to the prescribed procedure and without mandatory consultation with the Commission, the Commission does not accept such finalisation of disciplinary action. Accordingly, the same shall be treated as procedurally irregular and non est in the eyes of the Commission, warranting reconsideration,” EC said in the letter sent to the state chief secretary.As part of the explanation sought by EC, the competent authority has been asked to furnish the complete disciplinary case records, including the articles of charge, written statements of defence, inquiry reports, findings of the inquiry authority, orders of the disciplinary authority, file notings and all other relevant records forming the basis of the disciplinary action taken in respect of four officials, namely Tathagata Mondal, Debottam Dutta Choudhury, Biplab Sarkar and Sudipta Das.The commission had directed the state govt to suspend and initiate suitable disciplinary proceedings against the EROs/AEROs concerned and lodge FIRs against the erring officials, including the contractual data entry operator, under Section 32 of the RP Act, 1950, read with the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Information Technology Act, 2000. Sources said they were allegedly disposing of applications for inclusion in the electoral roll without proper verification or allowing a window for filing claims and objections.



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. NEW DELHI: In a classic case of how court proceedings are misused in matrimonial disputes– a woman agreed for a divorce and signed a financial settlement agreement for separation but she not only reneged from the promise after getting a substantial part of the money from her husband, but she also filed a criminal case against him and his family members. The Supreme Court on Monday invoked its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 142 to dissolve the marriage and also quashed the domestic violence case, brushing aside her opposition.Though the wife submitted that she withdrew her consent as the husband did not return her jewellery worth Rs 120 crore and gold biscuits worth Rs 50 crore which was not mentioned in the agreement in order to “avoid alerting the income tax department”, a bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi refused to give credence to her allegation after noting that the issue was never mentioned anywhere including in the WhatsApp chat between the estranged couple.The court said in case a compromise deed or a settlement agreement has been entered in between the parties regarding the full and final settlement of their disputes, then in that case it is not open for the party to step back from the terms and conditions so arrived between them. As per the settlement, the husband had paid her Rs 75 lakh as first instalment and Rs 14 lakh for purchase of the car and also returned her the jewellery items as mentioned in the agreement.”It is trite law that once the parties have entered into a settlement agreement which was duly authenticated by the mediator, in case of any resilement from such terms as agreed upon in the settlement, the resiling party must be encumbered with heavy costs. Any deviation from the terms of the settlement arrived in mediation and later confirmed by the Court should be dealt with strictly as such deviation harbors an attack to the foundational basis of the entire process of mediation,” the bench said.Referring to the wife’s claim about Rs 170 crore gold and that she only agreed to exclude these terms from the settlement agreement upon being asked so by the husband in order to avoid alerting the income tax department and to evade any liability towards wealth tax, the court termed her arguments as “highly egregious”. “We are appalled at the sheer audacity of such a submission being advanced before a court of law and deplore the evident disregard exhibited towards the legal system,” it said.The court said that she failed to mention any particular event of violence carried out either by the husband or his mother to justify their criminal prosecution and noted that the case was lodged only after she withdrew her consent for mutual divorce. “A criminal complaint regarding domestic violence, with mere reference to the names of the family members or the husband without any specific allegation that points towards their active involvement in commission of such an act of violence, shall be nipped in the bud,” the bench said.”While we are conscious of the fact that the parties to a long standing marital dispute are often fuelled by emotions, we cannot allow such emotions to take a drastic turn in as much as allowing the bursts of emotions to form the basis of criminal prosecution. Such criminal prosecution, if allowed, would lead to an abuse of law and cause harassment,” it said.The court dissolved the marriage and directed the husband to pay the final installment of Rs 70 lakh to her and also quashed all civil and criminal cases lodged by the couple against each other. The court allowed the plea of the husband who approached the court through his advocate Prabhjit Jauhar for divorce.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’We Have Common Fate’: Iran Envoy Thanks ‘Friend’ India, Responds On Hormuz Toll RowSupreme Court Refuses To Quash CBI Case Against Lalu Yadav In Land-For-Jobs Scam, Trial To ContinueNoida Protests Explained: Pay Gap Rising Costs And Labour Issues Behind The ViolenceTrust Deficit Grows In Ladakh As Activist Sonam Wangchuk Flags Delay In Talks With CentrePatna Posters Push Nishant Kumar As Next Chief Minister Of BiharDelhi To Dehradun In 2.5 Hours? 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. NEW DELHI: In a classic case of how court proceedings are misused in matrimonial disputes– a woman agreed for a divorce and signed a financial settlement agreement for separation but she not only reneged from the promise after getting a substantial part of the money from her husband, but she also filed a criminal case against him and his family members. The Supreme Court on Monday invoked its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 142 to dissolve the marriage and also quashed the domestic violence case, brushing aside her opposition.Though the wife submitted that she withdrew her consent as the husband did not return her jewellery worth Rs 120 crore and gold biscuits worth Rs 50 crore which was not mentioned in the agreement in order to “avoid alerting the income tax department”, a bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi refused to give credence to her allegation after noting that the issue was never mentioned anywhere including in the WhatsApp chat between the estranged couple.The court said in case a compromise deed or a settlement agreement has been entered in between the parties regarding the full and final settlement of their disputes, then in that case it is not open for the party to step back from the terms and conditions so arrived between them. As per the settlement, the husband had paid her Rs 75 lakh as first instalment and Rs 14 lakh for purchase of the car and also returned her the jewellery items as mentioned in the agreement.”It is trite law that once the parties have entered into a settlement agreement which was duly authenticated by the mediator, in case of any resilement from such terms as agreed upon in the settlement, the resiling party must be encumbered with heavy costs. Any deviation from the terms of the settlement arrived in mediation and later confirmed by the Court should be dealt with strictly as such deviation harbors an attack to the foundational basis of the entire process of mediation,” the bench said.Referring to the wife’s claim about Rs 170 crore gold and that she only agreed to exclude these terms from the settlement agreement upon being asked so by the husband in order to avoid alerting the income tax department and to evade any liability towards wealth tax, the court termed her arguments as “highly egregious”. “We are appalled at the sheer audacity of such a submission being advanced before a court of law and deplore the evident disregard exhibited towards the legal system,” it said.The court said that she failed to mention any particular event of violence carried out either by the husband or his mother to justify their criminal prosecution and noted that the case was lodged only after she withdrew her consent for mutual divorce. “A criminal complaint regarding domestic violence, with mere reference to the names of the family members or the husband without any specific allegation that points towards their active involvement in commission of such an act of violence, shall be nipped in the bud,” the bench said.”While we are conscious of the fact that the parties to a long standing marital dispute are often fuelled by emotions, we cannot allow such emotions to take a drastic turn in as much as allowing the bursts of emotions to form the basis of criminal prosecution. Such criminal prosecution, if allowed, would lead to an abuse of law and cause harassment,” it said.The court dissolved the marriage and directed the husband to pay the final installment of Rs 70 lakh to her and also quashed all civil and criminal cases lodged by the couple against each other. The court allowed the plea of the husband who approached the court through his advocate Prabhjit Jauhar for divorce.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’We Have Common Fate’: Iran Envoy Thanks ‘Friend’ India, Responds On Hormuz Toll RowSupreme Court Refuses To Quash CBI Case Against Lalu Yadav In Land-For-Jobs Scam, Trial To ContinueNoida Protests Explained: Pay Gap Rising Costs And Labour Issues Behind The ViolenceTrust Deficit Grows In Ladakh As Activist Sonam Wangchuk Flags Delay In Talks With CentrePatna Posters Push Nishant Kumar As Next Chief Minister Of BiharDelhi To Dehradun In 2.5 Hours? 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