ECI make changes to transfer policy of officers for Lok Sabha elections 2024

New Delhi: Taking serious note of the cases wherein officers are being transferred/posted in the adjacent districts within the same Parliamentary Constituency by the State Governments, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has strengthened its existing transfer policy to ensure that officials are not able to disturb the level playing field in the elections.

Plugging the loopholes in the existing instructions, the ECI has directed that, except for the States/UTs that comprise up to two Parliamentary Constituencies, all States shall ensure that officers who are transferred out of the districts are not posted within the same Parliamentary Constituency.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, joint director (Media) Anuj Chandak reiterated that the transfer policy of the commission must be adhered to in both letter and spirit and not just camouflaged to show compliance. He said this rule applies retrospectively to transfers and postings that have already been implemented per the commission’s prior instructions.

“As per ECI policy, all the officers who are either posted in their home district or have completed three years at a place that has been directed to be transferred. This includes officers who are in any way connected to the election work either directly or in a supervisory capacity. There is a zero-tolerance policy of the commission against disturbing the level playing field in the elections,” Anuj Chandak said.

It may be recalled that in the recently held five State Assembly elections, the commission ordered the transfer of various officials, even senior-level police officials in the state, he added.