Ahead of Assembly elections, transfer of officials soon

Officials have been instructed to calculate the cut-off date for the threeyear period by counting backwards from May 31, 2016.  Lakhoni has directed district electoral officers and officials to transfer staff posted in their home constituencies as well as those likely to be indirectly involved in election duty, to other places as per the Election Commission of India’s directive. 

The transfer does not apply to those posted as Sector Officers involved in election work, as their posting is due to their special expertise. Lakhoni’s note also says, “The District Electoral Officer (DEO) and Returning Officer should, however, keep a close watch on such officers during the election period to ensure strictly impartial performance.” ECI’s instruction on transfer is applicable to officers appointed for specific election duties like DEO, Deputy DEO, and other officials like additional collectors, deputy collectors, tehsildars and block development officers. 

The order is also applicable to police officers including range IGs, DIGs, commandants of State Armed Police, SSPs, SPs, additional SPs, sub-divisional heads of police, inspectors and other responsible for deployment of police in districts during election time.  However, transfer of officials engaged in electoral rolls revision would be implemented only after the final publication of electoral rolls. The transfers would be applicable to officials across all 32 districts in the state.

The heavy rain during the North East Monsoon flooded many houses and resulted in damage to property and hence electoral rolls publication will have to be updated. Speaking to dtNext, Lakhoni said, “ECI has written to the Chief Secretaries of all the five states going to the polls.  This is standard procedure for the ECI and is followed in every election. Often, the transfers happen automatically,” he said.