Chandigarh, September 14
The Haryana State Election Commissioner will now enjoy the same status and service conditions as that of a High Court Judge.
The equality in status will be in respect of travelling allowance, rent-free accommodation and exemption from liability to pay income tax on the value of such rent-free accommodation, conveyance facilities, sumptuary allowance and such other conditions of service, as are, for the time being, applicable to a High Court Judge.
This decision was taken by the state Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Cabinet amended the State Election Commissioner Conditions of Service Rules, 1994.
According to an official spokesman, the decision is a consequence of the meeting of the State Election Commissioners held on April 20 in Hyderabad under the chairmanship of the Election Commissioner of India, at which it was decided to raise the status of the State Election Commissioner to that of a High Court Judge.
The Cabinet also decided to rename the Revenue Department as the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
The spokesman said the department would work as the nodal department for disaster management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief and rehabilitation.
