Kolkata, 26 March (H.S.): Uncertainty continues to surround the candidature of Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman, who has been nominated by the All India Trinamool Congress from the Rajganj Assembly constituency in Jalpaiguri district, as complications deepen over a pending disciplinary case against her.

A court had earlier directed Barman to admit her misconduct and submit a formal letter to the Railways. However, fresh developments on Thursday indicated that instead of complying with the directive, she submitted a resignation letter, adding a new layer of complexity to the issue.

According to available information, Barman joined the Trinamool Congress on February 27 without resigning from her position in the Railways. Subsequently, she was declared the party’s candidate from Rajganj. On March 9, the Railways initiated a departmental inquiry against her, alleging violation of service rules by participating in political activities without prior resignation.

Although Barman submitted her resignation on March 16, the Railways refused to accept it, citing the ongoing departmental proceedings. Challenging this decision, she approached the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court, where the matter was heard on Wednesday by Justice Gourang Kanth.

During the hearing, the Railways informed the court that a departmental inquiry was pending against Barman, which prevented the issuance of the mandatory clearance certificate required to contest Assembly elections. The Railways also submitted that clearance could be granted if she formally admitted her misconduct and relinquished all claims to post-retirement benefits.

After hearing both sides, the court directed Barman to submit a letter admitting her misconduct to the Railways by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. While she did submit a letter, reports suggest that the Railways found its contents unsatisfactory.

Subsequently, the Deputy Solicitor General Sudipto Majumdar, representing the Railways, mentioned the matter again before the court. The court then directed Barman to submit a fresh letter explicitly admitting her misconduct.

Barman was serving as a Social Welfare Officer in the Alipurduar Division of the Railways. Under the present circumstances, the final decision on her candidature is likely to hinge on her compliance with the court’s directives and the Railways’ conditions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh