ARO Ambala to retire during election process, HC Advocate writes ECI
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 22, 2024: Hemant Kumar, Advocate Punjab, and Haryana High Court have written to the Election Commission of India regarding the retirement of the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) of Ambala Lok Sabha seat who is retiring from government service during the election process.
As per information, 2014-batch HCS Bijendra Singh is due to retire on May 31, 2024.
It is to be mentioned that voting will be held on 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana state on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Counting of votes will take place on June 4 while the entire election process will be completed by June 6.
Advocate Hemant Kumar, who is a registered voter of the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency, has written to the Election Commission of India stating that the involvement of the ARO who is about to retire in the election process is not right.
Hemant Kumar added that he also spoke to Haryana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anurag Aggarwal, Chief Secretary Office of the State Government, and Ambala LOC on this subject. A copy of the representation has also been sent to the Returning Officer (RO) of the seat and the DC of the district, Dr. Shaleen.
"It is very surprising that if the state government was aware that the present SDA of Barara sub-division M. Bijendra Singh , who is Ambala LOC. SDM of Mulana assembly constituency falling under the seat. Being A.R.O, if he is designated as a Civil Engineer and he is retiring from the service of the State Government on 31st May 2024, then why was he not replaced from the said post in time i.e. before 16th March i.e. before the Model Code of Conduct came into force," he expressed.