The administration in Bareilly has suspended a Booth Level Officer (BLO) following allegations of arbitrarily deleting the names of 26 Hindu voters from the Mohammadpur panchayat electoral roll in Shergarh block, triggering an inquiry into possible collusion with a former village pradhan.
Direct Case Overview
- Incident Location: Mohammadpur village, Shergarh Development Block, Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh.
- Accused Official: Nafees Mohammad Khan, appointed as Booth Level Officer (BLO) and serving as an assistant teacher.
- Primary Allegation: Wrongful deletion of 26 registered Hindu voters from the local panchayat electoral roll without issuing notices or citing statutory grounds.
- Complainants: Current village pradhan Rahul Gangwar along with affected local residents, backed by sworn affidavits.
- Administrative Action: Immediate suspension by District Basic Education Officer (BSA) Dr. Vineeta; reassigned to Composite School Sahsa in Mirganj block pending departmental inquiry.
- Inquiry Status: Three-member administrative committee established prima facie procedural lapses; a comprehensive departmental report has been ordered within 15 days.
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Read Latest News Online: How the Irregularity Was Uncovered
During the ongoing revision and verification of the panchayat voter rolls in Shergarh block, residents of Mohammadpur discovered that names belonging to 26 members of the Hindu community had been struck off.
The matter escalated when current village pradhan Rahul Gangwar lodged a formal complaint via the state government’s IGRS (Integrated Grievance Redressal System) portal. Accompanying the petition were affidavits submitted by affected residents stating that they are permanent inhabitants of the village, have voted in preceding elections, and never filed Form-7 or any request for migration or deletion of their names.
The complaint raised concerns about potential collusion between BLO Nafees Mohammad Khan and former village pradhan Rehan Khan, alleging that deletions were targeted to shift the electoral balance ahead of upcoming local panchayat polls.
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| BAREILLY VOTER LIST DISPUTE AT A GLANCE |
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| District / Block | Bareilly District, Shergarh Development Block |
| Village Panchayat | Mohammadpur |
| Accused BLO | Nafees Mohammad Khan (Assistant Teacher) |
| Deleted Names | 26 Hindu Voters (Affidavits submitted by residents) |
| Preliminary Finding | No valid notices, documentation, or justification produced |
| Administrative Order | Immediate suspension; departmental probe initiated |
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Administrative Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings
Following the IGRS petition, Bareilly district authorities constituted a joint three-member inquiry committee comprising officers at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Block Development Officer (BDO) levels.
- Failure to Provide Justification: During inquiry proceedings, the BLO was summoned to produce physical records, spot-verification reports, or death/migration certificates justifying the deletion of the 26 names. Khan failed to submit any solid evidence or valid administrative explanation for the action.
- Order of Suspension: On the basis of the committee’s prima facie findings of gross dereliction of duty and breach of election protocols, District Basic Education Officer Dr. Vineeta ordered Khan’s immediate suspension.
- Reassignment and Formal Probe: During his suspension period, Khan has been attached to the Composite School Sahsa in Mirganj block. Block Education Officer (BEO) of Fatehganj West, Bhanu Shankar Gangwar, has been appointed as the inquiry officer and directed to submit a detailed departmental report within 15 days.
“A thorough inquiry is being conducted into all aspects, including whether this was a deliberate act driven by malice or an administrative/technical lapse. If intentional disenfranchisement or conspiracy is proven, strict statutory and legal action will follow. Compromising the integrity of the electoral process will not be tolerated.”
— Avinash Singh, District Magistrate, Bareilly
Electoral Integrity Protocols and Legal Accountability
The deletion of names from an electoral roll is governed by strict statutory guidelines under the Representation of the People framework and State Election Commission norms.
- Mandatory Notice Requirement: A BLO cannot unilaterally remove an elector’s name. A formal inquiry, physical verification at the registered residence, and advance notice allowing the elector an opportunity to respond are mandatory before any deletion.
- Checks on Disenfranchisement: The district election office has initiated verification across adjacent booths in Shergarh block to ensure no other irregular deletions occurred during the roll revision.
- Restoration Process: District authorities confirmed that all 26 voters whose names were deleted without procedural justification are being re-verified for immediate restoration to the electoral list.
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Read Latest News Online: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What triggered the suspension of the BLO in Bareilly?
Nafees Mohammad Khan, serving as a Booth Level Officer in Mohammadpur village (Shergarh block), was suspended after an administrative inquiry found he deleted the names of 26 Hindu voters without valid reasons, documentation, or statutory notices.
Who lodged the complaint regarding the deletion of names?
Current village pradhan Rahul Gangwar and affected residents filed complaints along with sworn affidavits through the IGRS portal, alleging improper deletion and possible collusion with a former pradhan.
What action has been taken against the accused official?
District Basic Education Officer Dr. Vineeta placed Khan under immediate suspension and attached him to a school in Mirganj block while a departmental inquiry officer prepares a comprehensive report within 15 days.
Will the deleted voters be restored to the electoral roll?
Yes. District authorities have ordered a review of the deleted entries, and verified eligible residents are being re-added to safeguard the integrity of the voter list before local body elections.
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