‘Publicity stunt’: Indian officer barred from election duty for sharing his posting on Instagram

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday removed an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer from election duty after he shared his posting as General Observer on social media.

“Now, it has come to the notice of the Commission that Sh. Abhishek Singh, IAS (UP, 2011 batch) has used social media platform “Instagram” for sharing his posting/joining as General Observer and used his official position as a publicity stunt,” the EC said in its order.

The Commission has taken a very serious view of the matter and therefore, Abhishek Singh, IAS has been relieved immediately of his duties as General Observer and has been debarred from any election-related duty till further orders, the Commission said.

The officer, who calls himself Abhishek S IAS on social media, shared two photos on Instagram. In one, he stands next to an official car with a beacon and “Observer” written on the front. “Joined as Observer for Gujarat elections,” the caption said.

Another post showed him with three more officials and an armed security man, all smiling at the camera.

Singh, who appears to be active on social media and describes himself as a “public servant, actor, social entrepreneur and stubborn optimist”, shared the same photos on Twitter.

Earlier, the Commission had appointed Singh as General Observer for Assembly Constituency 49-Bapunagar and 56-Asarwa of Ahmedabad District of Gujarat.

The officer was ordered to leave the constituency immediately and report to his parent cadre. All government facilities provided to him in Gujarat were also taken away, including the car featured in his posts.

Singh has been replaced by Krishan Bajpai, another IAS officer.

Gujarat will vote on December 1 and 5 for a new government. The results will be declared on December 8.