ECI bans official transfers during J-K electoral roll revision

SRINAGAR — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has banned the transfer of officials engaged in the revision of electoral rolls in Jammu & Kashmir during the revision period, which would start on July 25 with the publication of draft electoral rolls and culminate on August 20.

In a letter to chief secretaries of Jammu & Kashmir and three poll-bound states, the Commission, as per the news agency KNO, has directed that no officials connected with the exercise of revision of electoral rolls like district election officers, deputy district election officers, electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers etc should be transferred from their places of posting without the prior concurrence of the Election Commission during the special summary revision in the state/union territory.

“It is to clarify that during the current round of revision of electoral rolls such ban on transfer and posting would be effective from the date of draft publication of electoral roll to the date of final public of electoral roll in your state/UT,” the letter states.

According to the communique, the Commission has pointed out that the transfer of officials engaged in roll-revision work during the period of revision adversely affects the work and quality of the revision work.

The Commission has said that if it becomes essential to transfer any officer like DEO/EROs etc, a reference, giving full justification, should be made by the state government in consultation with the chief electoral officer and through the state CEO for consideration of the Commission.

“The transfer of AEROs and below level officers/officials including BLOs can be decided by CEO at his own level,” the letter states.