Hundreds Of Govt Staff Face Action For Skipping Election Duty In Telangana
The collector said the employees were given multiple opportunities to explain their absence but failed to respond to notices: Reports
WARANGAL: Strict disciplinary action has been initiated against hundreds of government employees for unauthorised absence and gross negligence during the recent gram panchayat elections in the erstwhile Karimnagar and Warangal districts. District collectors and election authorities termed the failure to report for duty a serious violation of election laws, leading to immediate suspensions and the issuance of notices to hundreds of employees.
Jagtial district collector B. Satya Prasad suspended three employees, V. Hema, P. Radha and V. Raghupathi Rao, for deliberate negligence. Despite completing mandatory election training, the trio failed to report for duty during the first phase of polling held on December 11.
The collector said the employees were given multiple opportunities to explain their absence but failed to respond to notices. Consequently, they were placed under suspension under the Telangana Civil Services Rules, 1991, for dereliction of essential public duty.
In Karimnagar, the district education officer issued show-cause notices to 713 staff members who remained absent during the three phases of polling. Officials said the absenteeism caused significant strain on election arrangements. Similarly, in Jangaon district, collector Rizwan Basha Shaik initiated action against 71 employees, including teachers and Anganwadi workers, for skipping election duty without prior permission.
While several employees claimed they were unaware of their postings due to technical glitches or notifications being shared only through WhatsApp, election authorities rejected the explanation. Officials pointed out that most absentees had attended training sessions, indicating they were aware of their assigned duties.
Election duty is treated as mandatory national service, and absence without a valid medical emergency is considered a serious act of negligence. Authorities warned that employees who fail to provide satisfactory explanations would face adverse entries in their service records.
Meanwhile, the large-scale absenteeism has triggered debate among residents. While some called for a review of official communication systems, district administrations reiterated that transparency and accountability are non-negotiable, noting that the smooth functioning of newly elected village bodies depends on responsible conduct by government staff.
