Kolkata, Aug. 5 -- The West Bengal Assembly Secretariat has placed the marshal-cum-security officer under suspension with immediate effect over alleged misconduct during the orientation programme held last month for newly elected MLAs.
The order, issued by Principal Secretary SN Das, said disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, the Marshal concerned.
Assembly sources said several newly elected legislators had expressed dissatisfaction, both orally and in writing, to the ruling party's Chief Whip, alleging "discourteous" behaviour and serious lapses on the part of Mukhopadhyay in dealing with the MLAs and discharging his official responsibilities.
The marshal is responsible for overseeing security arrangements inside the Assembly and leads a team entrusted with maintaining order in the House.
Officials said this is probably the first instance of a marshal being suspended in the state assembly's history.
A senior bureaucrat said the suspension was an interim administrative measure pending the outcome of the departmental proceedings.
"The inquiry will determine the facts, and any further action will be taken in accordance with the applicable service rules," the official said.
The orientation programme for newly elected MLAs was held on July 3 and 4. The order said Mukhopadhyay would be entitled to the admissible subsistence allowance during the suspension period until further orders.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.