The Election Commission of India (ECI) has rolled out a set of directions for the election-bound States including Assam.
The ECI, in its directions, reminded the election-bound States not to assign any election-related duties to officials who have been charged for any lapse in any election in the past.
The ECI has dispatched an advisory to the Chief Secretaries of the States of Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are scheduled to be held during the first half of this year.
In its advisory, the ECI said that officers against whom it had recommended disciplinary action in past and which is pending or has resulted in a penalty should also not be deployed for poll-related work.
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Moreover, the ECI in its set of directions also advised that any officer who is due to retire within the coming six months, also should be barred from being assigned with any election related duty.
The ECI has also asked the poll-bound States to ensure that officers directly connected with the conduct of elections are not posted in their home districts and those who have spent three years in a district in the last four years.
“To ensure free and fair election, the Commission has been following a consistent policy to the effect that officers directly connected with conduct of elections in an election going State/UT are not posted in their home districts or places where they have served for considerably long period,” the advisory said.
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Notably, the present terms of the State Governments in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will culminate on different dates in May and June this year.
Polls for elections to the Assemblies if these 5 States are likely to be held simultaneously during April-May.