In a significant move to protect the integrity of the electoral process, the District Election Officer and Collector of Bhadrak has recommended the immediate suspension of Santosh Kumar Nayak, Executive Officer of Dhamnagar Notified Area Council (NAC) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer for the 46-Dhamnagar (SC) Assembly Constituency.
The proposal, contained in an official letter dated 21 September 2026, follows explicit consent from the Election Commission of India and directions from the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha. The action stems from serious allegations of irregularities during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to the letter, the ECI conveyed its approval for both suspension and initiation of disciplinary proceedings after examining a report submitted by the Electoral Registration Officer of Dhamnagar constituency. The core charges involve the unauthorized use of Booth Level Officers’ (BLOs) identity cards, credentials, and One-Time Passwords (OTPs), along with the unauthorized filing and uploading of Form-7 applications — the statutory form used for deletion of names from the voters’ list.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, has directed that Nayak be placed under suspension in accordance with applicable rules and that a full-fledged draft charge sheet be prepared for major penalty proceedings under Rule 15 of the Odisha Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1962.
Bhadrak Collector and District Election Officer has now written to the Director of Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, requesting that necessary steps be taken without delay. Copies of the communication have also been sent to the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, and the Additional Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
The development comes against the backdrop of earlier complaints, including those raised by political parties, regarding pressure on BLOs and alleged attempts to delete names without following prescribed safeguards. Officials have emphasized that the action is based on the ERO’s report and ECI’s independent assessment rather than political representations.
Election authorities have repeatedly stressed that any misuse of official credentials or digital access during the SIR exercise will attract strict consequences. The proposed suspension, pending completion of disciplinary proceedings, is intended to ensure that the revision process remains free from interference.
Further action now rests with the Housing and Urban Development Department, which is the cadre-controlling authority for the officer.
