Transfer officials posted in home districts: EC to states ahead of LS polls

Saurabh Chopra January 29, 2019

Transfer officials posted in home districts EC to states ahead of LS polls

Election Commission has ordered Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and Directors General of Police (DGPs) of all States and Union Territories to complete transfer and posting of officers by February 28 and submit compliance report by the first week of March.

In a move to ensure transparency, the EC also made it clear that all those deputed on election related duty, will have to give a declaration that s/he is not a close relative of any of the contesting candidates in the current election or leading political functionaries of the State and district.

“If the officer concerned has completed three years in the district during last four years or would be completing three years on or before May 31, 2019, s/he will be shifted immediately. While calculating the period of three years, promotion to a post within the district shall be counted,” the EC said.

The EC also directed that a police officer should not be posted in his/her home cadre.

“The Commission further desires that no officer/official, against whom a criminal case is pending in any court of law, be associated with/deployed on election related duty,” the letter added.

“Any officer working in the same place when the last general elections were held should be transferred to another place. All officers including IAS and IPS, collectors, joint collectors, revenue officers, tahsildars, block development officers and officers from the rank of inspector general of police to sub-inspectors were liable for transfer,” the EC said.

“The Deputy Election Officer should ensrue that officers/officials who are transferred should immediately handover their charge without waiting for their substitute. Besides, those who are on extension of service or re-employed in different capacities will not be deploy on election duty” it added.

The term of the 16th Lok Sabha ends on June 3, the terms of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim assemblies expire on June 18, June 1, June 11 and May 27, respectively.