Official suspended for circulating `unconfirmed' info on virus

A district-level official was suspended on Tuesday in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district for allegedly posting misleading information on novel coronavirus on a WhatsApp group. G S Badhai, Chief Executive Officer of Janpad Panchayat of Charama posted "unconfirmed and misleading" information on a WhatsApp group named `Janpad Panchayat Charama', said the suspension order issued by Collector K L Chauhan.

As per a notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare department, no person, institution or organisation is supposed to use print and electronic media to spread information about coronavirus without permission of the department, it said. The CEO was suspended under the Chhattisgarh Civil Service Rules, 1966, the order said.

So far no confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in Chhattisgarh..