In course of ensuring free and fair elections, the Electoral Office of Delhi has asked for a list of all police officers — Station House Officers (SHOs), Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and above —who have completed more than four years in a district.
It has also sought names of those officers posted in various police stations in 2008 and 2009 during the Assembly and parliamentary elections. There are 178 police stations in Delhi, including metro, railway, Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Special Cell. Of these, there are over 100 SHOs who have not been transferred outside their districts for several years.
The Election Commission of India (EC) has written to all States directing that officers connected or likely to be connected with conduct of elections not serve in their home district or places where they have served for three years or more during the past four years. Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi Vijay Dev said, "This exercise will ensure free, impartial and fair elections and check misuse of police during polls."
Intelligence reports have stated that SHOs who are posted in districts for a longer period develop vested interest with local leaders and help them during elections. EC has also asked States not to post officers up to Sub-Inspector level in their home Assembly constituency.
"Police officers of the level of Sub-Inspectors should be transferred not only out of their police station but also out of the Assembly constituency if they have completed tenure of three years during last four years in that district. Any officer who is due to retire within coming six months will be exempt from the purview of the above directions of the Election Commission. Such officers may not be engaged for performing election duties," it noted.