Srinagar, Feb 27: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday clarified its recent circular on transfers and postings related to the upcoming General Elections to the Lok Sabha in 2024.
As per the communique addressed to Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of all states and union territories, a copy of which lies with Rising Kashmir, Senior Principal Secretary Narendra N. Butolia highlighted that the officials, including DEOs, Dy. DEOs, RO, AROs, and various police officers, should be transferred if they have completed 3 years in the same constituency or district within the last 4 years.
The instructions, issued on 23.02.2024, specifically apply to these officers. Notably, ROs and AROs should not be posted in their home district’s parliamentary constituency.
The clarification mentioned that states/UTs with up to 5 Parliamentary Constituencies are exempt from the Commission’s instructions of 23.02.2024. The Commission emphasized the need for immediate compliance reports from the Chief Secretary and DGP of the concerned states.
The development follows the Commission’s concern about alleged violations of transfer and posting policies, where officers were reportedly being transferred within the same parliamentary constituency but in adjacent districts.
The exemption from the directive is applicable to at least nineteen states and union territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, in anticipation of the upcoming general elections expected around April 2024.
