Chief Election Commissioner directs to study invalidation of minister from assembly polls

NEW DELHI: In view of Gujarat HC invalidating of Gujarat minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama from Dholka assembly seat in 2017, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has, after discussion with EC secretary general on telephone, directed a 3-member committee of officers to study details of the judgment and present the matter to the Commission at the earliest.
The team will be headed by Secretary General Umesh Sinha and comprise deputy election commissioner Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar and Director (Law) Vijay Pandey.
In this matter, on behest of the Commission, direction had already been conveyed to the state government of Gujarat to initiate disciplinary action against the then Returning Officer Dhaval Jani, Deputy Collector. The proceedings are underway.
Mr Jani was also removed from election duties during the 2019 Lok Sabha election in view of the interim order of the Hon'ble High Court in the matter.