IAS officer sacked as Gujarat poll observer over 'publicity stunt' on social media

New Delhi. An Uttar Pradesh IAS officer has been removed as a general observer for Gujarat assembly polls by the Election Commission for indulging in a "publicity stunt" by posting pictures of his assignment on Instagram, sources said on Friday.

In a strongly-worded letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat on Friday, the EC said Abhishek Singh–I, a 2011-batch officer, used Instagram for sharing his posting as a general observer and used his official position as a 'publicity stunt'.

The EC relieved the officer of his duties and debarred him from any election-related duty till further orders. The EC ordered Singh to leave the constituency immediately and gave another officer the additional charge till a new observer was appointed. The EC said all government facilities extended to Singh to discharge his duty should be revoked immediately by the district administration.

Reacting to the development, Singh quoted his earlier tweet and said he accepted the EC's decision "with all humility".

"Though I believe there's nothing wrong in this post. A public servant, in a car bought by public's money, reporting for public duty, with public officials, communicating it to the public. It is neither publicity nor a stunt!" he tweeted.