Ranchi, Feb. 4: Bureaucrats reacted with surprise to the action of the Election Commission in directing the government to put industries secretary K.K. Khandelwal under suspension for “dereliction of duty”.

It was perhaps the first case, they pointed out in which the commission went ahead with directly ordering the suspension of an observer on a report of the returning officer.

Khandelwal had been deputed as observer at Kum Kalan Assembly constituency in Punjab. He invited the commission’s wrath for “visiting places outside Punjab in violation of the EC guidelines”.

“Though we do not defend his action of going out of his constituency during an election job but such harsh action was not expected,” they said.

“In the past, the commission has penalised erring officers, but its action went to the extent of withdrawing them from the election duty. For example, the panel had withdrawn Vivek Kumar Singh, a Bihar cadre IAS officer, deputed as an observer, from the election job when an adverse report came against him,” they said.

With a weak government at the helm of affairs in Jharkhand, it is not likely that Madhu Koda will invite confrontation with the poll panel, the officers said. They found flaws with the EC order on three counts. Firstly, an observer should not face such a harsh action on the basis of the report of the returning officer. Secondly, Khandelwal should have asked explanation before passing the order. Thirdly, a dereliction of duty is considered when the observer fails to send statutory reports or not made inspection of booths.

Khandelwal told The Telegraph that he had not been asked an explanation. “I came to know of the commission’s decision only through newspapers,” he said.

“I have held all statutory meetings, sent reports to the EC and attended meetings with the SSP. I have documentary proof to establish my job,” he said.

Khandelwal said he had sent adverse reports against the returning officer G. Siddhu for his failure to implement the model code of conduct.

Chief secretary M.K. Mandal, however, said the government would take proper action on the commission’s order. The state government has to send the compliance report by February 8.

Chief electoral officer Debashish Gupta said he had not received any communique in this regard. “The issue is between the EC and the state government,” he added.