NEW DELHI/JAMMU: Taking serious note of the cases wherein officers are being transferred/ posted in the adjacent districts within the same Parliamentary Constituency by the state governments, the Commission has strengthened its existing transfer policy to ensure that officials are not able to disturb the level playing field in the elections.
Plugging the loopholes in the existing instructions, the Commission has directed that, except for the States/UTs that comprise up to two Parliamentary Constituencies, all States shall ensure that officers who are transferred out of the district are not posted within the same Parliamentary Constituency.
The latest order of the Election Commission will lead to another set of transfers in Jammu and Kashmir where both civil and police administration had carried out large scale transfers of the officers at different levels in January and February to follow the Commission’s previous directions.
Official sources told senior civil and police administration officials had long sittings in their offices in Jammu and Kashmir during the day today despite holiday to work out number of the officers/officials who would be affected by the Election Commission’s order issued in the wake of Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in the months of April and May.
The Administration is expected to seek certain clarifications on the order from the Chief Electoral Officer tomorrow as the Commission has fixed deadline for compliance of the order for the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police by 3 PM on February 26 (Monday).
Some personal, individuals of Food and Drug Administration Department JK UT working in their home District like Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, Doda Ramban and many District of Kashmir Division for the last 15 years.
In the month of January and February, the civil and police administration carried out large scale transfers of officers/officials in various ranks to comply with the Election Commission’s December 21, 2023 order which stated that the officers connected with conduct of elections are not posted in their home districts or places where they have served for considerably long period.
The Commission pointed out that it has come to its notice that in certain cases, officers are being transferred/posted in adjacent districts within the Parliamentary constituency thereby undermining the spirit of the transfer policy.
It added that the directions shall also be applicable to the transfers/postings that have already been given effect in pursuance of the Commission’s earlier instructions.
Issued by ECI Secretary Ashwani Kumar Mohal, the ordered reiterated that transfer policy of the Commission must be adhered in both letter and spirit.
The Commission has directed the Chief Secretaries/CEOs of all States and Union Territories that a report certifying compliance of the earlier directions and including the latest directions should be furnished by the Chief Secretary and the DGP of the State/UT concerned to the Commission latest by 3 PM on February 26, 2024.
Political parties have a right to make promises in their election manifestos and the electorate has a right to know if these are genuine and how these programmes could be funded, he said, adding the entire matter forms part of an ongoing case and the matter was sub judice.
At a press conference here, Rajiv Kumar, answering questions, said the Election Commission has prepared a ‘proforma’ to make parties to make a disclosure on their election promises. However, this aspect also relates to the pending court matter.
He said enforcement agencies have been directed to stay vigilant and prevent distribution of cash and freebies. National Payments Corporation of India too has been tasked to monitor online transactions.
To a query on ‘fake news,’ he said, today fake news is running as you mentioned that election dates have been announced. This fake news has, however, been countered within half an hour and it was made amply clear that it was fake.
A majority of political parties have sought single phase polls. After holding meetings with political parties during the last two days, Rajiv Kumar said “a majority of parties informed him that many parties have commenced parking of funds for distribution to voters.”
“We met various political parties both national like the BJP, INC and state parties like the AIADMK, DMK. A majority of their demands were single phase elections, curb on distribution of money and freebies,” he said.
The parties also sought action to prevent ‘voter impersonation,’ distribution of liquor and transfer of money through online mode.
During past elections in Tamil Nadu, parties have often accused each other of ‘inducing’ voters by distributing cash and gifts. Kumar today said most of the political parties in Tamil Nadu have urged the EC to conduct the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in single phase in the State.
EC to states/UT: Stop inter-district transfer of officers within same Lok Sabha constituency Another round of transfers in J&K in offing
