EC can transfer officers only after notification of polls: SC

New Delhi, Feb 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted four weeks time to the state of Tamil Nadu to respond to the petition filed by the Election Commission against a Madras High Court judgement holding that EC can order transfer of officers only after the notification of the elections.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and Lokeshwar Singh Panta subsequently adjourned the hearing of the case.

State of Tamil Nadu has challenged the order of the EC transfering the then Police Commissioner of Chennai Mr Nataraj during 2006 Assembly elections on the ground that EC can order transfer only after the notification of the elections and not from the date of announcement of poll schedule.

The Madras High Court allowed the petition of the state government and held that EC cannot order any transfer till the date of notification of elections.

EC came in appeal to the Supreme Court and the apex court had issued notices earlier.

UNI AKS/SC SY RP HT1712