ECI Issues Strict Directive on Officer Transfers Ahead of LS Polls

Press Trust of Kashmir

NEW DELHI (PTK) : In light of the imminent Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has voiced strong concern over the disregard for instructions regarding the transfers and postings of officers. The ECI has directed all relevant offices across states and union territories to strictly adhere to the transfer policy outlined by the Commission.

Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal, in a communication addressed to the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of all states and union territories, highlighted the Commission’s consistent policy regarding the deployment of officers involved in election management. The directive emphasized that such officers should not be stationed in their home districts or areas where they have served extensively.

Expressing dismay over reported instances of officers being transferred or posted to adjacent districts within the same Parliamentary Constituency, the ECI underscored the importance of upholding the transfer policy’s essence.

The Commission’s directive stipulates that, with the exception of states or union territories comprising up to two Parliamentary Constituencies, officers transferred out of a district must not be reassigned within the same Parliamentary Constituency. This mandate applies to both future transfers and those already implemented in line with the Commission’s instructions.

Furthermore, the ECI has mandated that a compliance report, affirming adherence to previous directives and incorporating the newly issued instructions, be submitted by the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of the respective state to the Commission by 3:00 PM on February 26, 2024.

The ECI’s firm stance underscores its commitment to ensuring fairness and impartiality in the electoral process, safeguarding against any potential influences that may compromise its integrity.