EC permission to be sought on transfer of officers

Chandigarh, Jul 16 (UNI) The Punjab Government today directed that 'key officers' like District Registration Officers, Booth Level Officers connected with the exercise of revision of electoral rolls would be transferred from their places of postings without prior concurrence of the State Election Commission.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Department of Personnel said that the existing provisions of the Representation of People Act stipulates that any officer or staff employed for the preparation, revision and correction of electoral rolls would be deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission till the task at hand is not completed.

Therefore, 'key officers' connected with the exercise of revision of electoral rolls should be transferred from their places of postings without prior concurrence of the Election Commission. In case it becomes absolutely necessary to make any transfer of the 'key' election officers connected with the revision of rolls or there was any need for shifting of officers due to their promotions, the Election Commission would consider the same on merits on a case to case basis.

Any proposal for inevitable transfer would be sent to the Commission giving detailed and full justification for the same, the spokesman stated. All vacant posts related to the poll revision exercise would be filled up immediately.

The spokesman said that readjustment of constituencies notified by the Delimitation Commission took effect from February 19 this year and this had necessitated the reconstruction of the electoral rolls for each newly delimitated constituency. Though an annual revision with the same qualifying date had already been ordered by the Election Commission for the purpose, the time schedule for the preparation of photo electoral rolls in the State had been fixed from July two to August 30.

The spokesman said that in case it becomes absolutely necessary to make any transfer of the 'key' election officers connected with the revision of rolls or there was any need for shifting of officers due to their promotions, the Election Commission may be consulted through the state Chief Electoral Officer.

UNI HS BP1628