EC orders reshuffle of officials in poll-bound Bihar

In the run-up to the Bihar Assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered transfer of State officials posted in their home districts and those who have served long at one place in order to ensure free and fair polls. The Commission’s letter addressed to the Bihar Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar on July 28 was released on Saturday where the Commission sought an action taken report from the Chief Secretary and CEO before this month-end.

The development marks an important step preceding the formal announcement of polls in the State where the tenure of the Assembly ends on November 29 this year. Earlier this month, CEC Nasim Zaidi had visited the State and met Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and DGP PK Thakur, who assured him cooperation for smooth conduct of polls. The Election Commission team even met representatives of 10 national and State parties in the State who shared their suggestions on possible poll schedule.

Revealing contents of the letter communicating transfer of officials, the EC said, “The Commission, in its task of conducting free and fair elections has followed the consistent policy to ensure that officers, who are connected with the conduct of elections in the State, do not serve in their home districts or places where they have served for long,” the EC letter said.

In the past, the Commission received several queries with regard to transfer-postings. The poll panel said that no officer — either from the administration or police service, connected directly with elections should be allowed to continue in the present district of posting if she/he is posted in her/his home district and if she/he has completed three years in that district during the last four years or would be completing three years on or before November 30, 2015.

The Commission further stated, “If prima facie any complaint is received with regard to officers who are indirectly connected with election, the Commission shall take appropriate action against such officials.”

The panel clarified that the transfer order will not be applicable to Sector officers though they are directly involved with the poll process. This exception was made for the reason that their duties require them to be deployed in the field where their knowledge of the area or terrain is crucial to their effective performance.

It, however, directed senior poll officials to keep a close watch on such officers during the election period to ensure their performance is “strictly impartial”. The Commission asked the State Government to scrupulously follow the cut-off date prescribed for calculating the three year period as past experience showed how states failed to strictly enforce it.