Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 31: The district election officer, deputy commissioner (DC) Ravikumar M R has suspended Dakshina Kannada Pre-University Education department deputy director Jayanna C D over dereliction of duty during elections.

Denying the allegations mentioned in the notice, Jayanna has questioned the action of the deputy commissioner.

To check the election preparedness, deputy commissioner had organised a press meet on May 9. The staff of the deputy commissioner’s office had informed Jayanna over phone to be present during the press meet.

When the staff of the DC office contacted Jayanna, he had informed that he cannot attend the press meet as he was going to Bengaluru to submit the records of the second PU examination.

As the preparations for legislative elections were going on, without the permission of the district election officer, Jayanna had left the district center, is the allegation against him.

The pre-university college polling stations which come under the district pre-university education department had to be opened to check the preparedness on May 9 and 10. In this regard, the DDPU should inform all the colleges which come under his purview. But, the staff, officers and officers of the polling station reached the centers late on May 9.

As the DDPU did not inform the district election officer, there was a delay in the election officers reaching the election centers. Preventing booth level polling station officers in discharging their duty has been taken very seriously, the district election officer mentioned in the proceedings of May 9.

The district election officer under the Indian Penal Code section 188 and section 134 Representation of the People Act and Rule 9 of Civil Services Regulation Rule 1957 ordered for suspension of Jayanna on May 9.

Answering the district election officer's notice issued on May 11, Jayanna stated, "It is my mistake for not attending the press meet scheduled on May 9 and leaving the election center without your permission. It is my duty to seek permission from higher officials while leaving the election center. Intentionally, I have not shown any lethargy and negligence in the election duty. I had to submit the details of the PU students regarding their appearance for the examination on May 23 to the Karnataka School Education and Evaluation and Assessment Board in Bengaluru. As all our office staff were on election duty, I had to go to Bengaluru.”

As DDPU showed negligence in public duty, the district election officer had issued notice to Jayanna on May 15 and appointed MCC commissioner as an investigation officer for inquiry.