New Delhi, February 11
In a move to ensure free and fair Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Election Commission today directed states and union territories to transfer officers who have completed four years in the same district and also ensure that no officer continues in his home district.
The commission asked chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of states to send the compliance report as early as possible.
It has also asked the authorities that officers against whom the commission has recommended disciplinary action should not be assigned election duty.
The commission said these instructions would not only cover officers appointed for specific election duty like district election officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers, but other district-level officers like additional district magistrates, deputy collectors, subdivisional magistrates and tehsildars.
As far as officers in the police department are concerned, these instructions shall be applicable to range IGs, DIGs, SSPs, SPs and subdivisional heads of police and officers in charge of police stations, be it inspectors or sub-inspectors.
The commission asked the states to conduct a detailed review so that officers posted in their home districts could be moved out immediately. It, however, said these instructions did not apply to officers posted at the state headquarters.
It, however, noted that the transfer of officers entrusted with the work relating to revision of electoral rolls could be effected only after the final publication of the rolls.
While implementing transfers, the chief electoral officers of the states, should be consulted regarding the new persons being brought in, it added.
The EC has convened a meeting of all recognised political parties on February 20 to take their views on the process of conducting the Lok Sabha elections.
A commission press note said it would also hold consultations with Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal on the requirement of central paramilitary forces for the conduct of the General election. The date of this meeting was not disclosed.
Chief secretaries, DGPs and leaders of recognised political parties of 15 states will meet the Election Commission tomorrow to discuss the conduct of free and fair poll in the states.
The officials and parties which will meet the commission are from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka,
Pondicherry, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.The commission will discuss the situation in other states on Monday and Tuesday. Later, the commission will hold discussions with the Union Home Ministry. It is likely to announce the poll schedule in the last week of this month.
Meanwhile, the Congress today demanded that the Election Commission should ensure a level playing field for all political parties, alleging that the government was misusing the taxpayers’ money to highlight its claims.
A delegation of Congress leaders met the three-member commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishna Murthy, to file their complaints.
Talking to newspersons, Congress leader R.K. Anand said the commission had informed them that it had already taken up the issue of “misuse” of taxpayers’ money with the government.
The Congress delegation, in its complaint, said the government was misusing a public broadcaster, DD News, by showing live a function organised by the BJP.
Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee also met the commission and urged the members to take steps to ensure free and fair poll in West Bengal.
