Bhubaneswar: A Block Development Officer (BDO) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been suspended for dereliction of duty.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Odisha, RS Gopalan, has asked Mayurbhanj Collector and District Election Officer (DEO) to place Badasahi BDO Banaja Das under suspension after she skipped two important training programmes for the conduct of special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state. 

The BDO has been suspended as per the OCS (CC&A) Rules, 1962.

According to the CEO, the BDO-cum-AERO had skipped the virtual training programme for EROs and AEROs on May 23 despite prior intimation and clear instructions.

The woman officer also did not submit any reply to a show-cause notice served on her for her absence in the training programme.

Moreover, the BDO did not organise a training programme for the BLOs and BLO Supervisors, scheduled to be held on May 26 and 27.

The officer also remained absent in the training programme for BLOs and BLO Supervisors on May 28 without obtaining any approval, said the CEO.

“The officer remained absent in the two training programmes, demonstrating a pattern of non-participation in key preparatory activities or SIR. Her absence can be considered as gross indiscipline and negligence towards statutory duties,” added the CEO.