New Delhi: Routine restrictions on postings and transfers ordered ahead of assembly polls in four states and one union territory, election committee Their chief secretaries were asked on Tuesday to transfer all poll-related officers posted in their districts or complete three out of four years in their districts on or before May 31 if pondicherrydeadline is June 30).Further, the EC said the District Returning Officer, Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer or an officer of the rank of Police Inspector/Sub-Inspector and above shall not continue or be posted in the same constituency or area where the last Assembly polls or any subsequent by-elections took place.Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will hold assembly polls in April-May.The EC made it clear that transfer orders of officials working on SIR can be issued and executed only after the final release of the electoral roll in consultation with the Chief Electoral Officer.In a letter to the chief secretary, the Election Commission said officials against whom disciplinary action has been recommended, officials accused of any poll-related lapses and officials against whom criminal cases related to official functions are pending, will not be assigned any election-related duties. The EC allows cases of inability to comply with its instructions to be referred to the EC through the Chief Executive Officer to seek exemption.The transfer policy also applies to officials of the excise department.
