Filling up of vacant posts and ban on transfers and postings of key Government officials connected with Revision of Rolls

Filling up of vacant posts and ban on transfers and postings of key Government officials connected with Revision of Rolls from 27.10.2023 to 05.01.2024 connected with Revision of Electoral Rolls G.O 1973:ELECTORAL ROLLS – Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls with reference to 01.01.2024 as the qualifying date – Filling up of vacant posts and ban on transfers and postings of key Government officials connected with Revision of Rolls – Orders – Issued

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (ELECTIONS.B) DEPARTMENT G.O.Rt.No.1973   Dated: 06th October, 2023

Read the following:-

1. From the ECI Lr.No. 23/2023-ERS(Vol.III), dt.29.05.2023.
2. From the ECI Lr.No.23/2023-ERS(Vol.Ill), dt.13.09.2023.
3. From the ECI Lr.No.23/2023-ERS(Vol.III), dt.25.09.2023.

ORDER:

The Election Commission of India has issued schedule for Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls with reference to 01.01.2024 as the qualifying date vide their letter first read above. In the letter third read above, the Election Commission of India has issued revised schedule. According to which the draft publication of the electoral rolls will be made on 27.10.2023 and the final publication will be made on 05.01.2024.

The Commission in its letter second read above, has stated that under the provision of Section 13CC of Representation of People Act, 1950, any officer or staff employed in connection with preparation, revision and correction of electoral roll shall be deemed to be on deputation to ECI for the period for which they are so employed and such officer and staff shall, during that period, be subject to the control, superintendence and discipline of the ECI. Transfer of officials engaged in roll-revision work during the period of revision adversely affects the work and the quality of revision process. Hence, the Commission has directed that no officials connected with the exercise of revision of electoral rolls like the District Election Officers, Deputy District Election Officers, the Electoral Registration Officers and the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers etc. should be transferred from their places of posting without the prior concurrence of the Election Commission during the period of Special Summary Revision in the State. It has also been clarified 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 publication of electoral roll in the State.

The Commission has also stated that if it becomes absolutely essential to transfer any officer like EROs/DEOs etc, a reference giving full justification should be made by State Government in consultation with 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 the CEO at his level. This applies to filling up the vacant posts of these categories also. The CEO shall also invariably be consulted while posting substitute officer. The CEO should consult the Commission, where felt necessary. The Commission further directed that no officer/officials (i) against whom the Commission has recommended any disciplinary action and the same is pending, or (ii) to whom major penalty has been given as a result of said disciplinary proceeding , or (iii) against whom a serious criminal case is pending in any court of law, or (iv) who was transferred out during any previous revision of rolls or conduct of election for inefficiency or willfully violating the ECI directions shall be associated with work relating to revision of rolls. In case of doubt, the CEO should decide the matter, in consultation with the Commission wherever felt necessary by him.

Accordingly, the Government hereby order that all officials connected with the preparation of electoral rolls of Assembly Constituencies i.e. all District Election Officers viz., all District Collectors, Electoral Registration Officers (all Sub-Collectors/Revenue Divisional Officers/ Deputy Collectors I Joint Collectors / Municipal Commissioners / Addl. Municipal Commissioners of certain Municipal Corporations), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (Tahsildars / Municipal Commissioners / Deputy Tahsildars), Supervisors, VROs / NRAs, Panchayat Secretaries, Village & Ward Secretariat employees and other officials appointed as Booth Level Officers, should not be disturbed from their place of posting without prior concurrence of the Election Commission of India from 27.10.2023 to 05.01.2024.

The authorities noted in the address entry (General Administration, Revenue, Municipal Administration and Panchayat Raj Departments) shall fill up all the vacant posts, if any, of the officials who are acting as District Election Officers (Collectors), Electoral Registration Officers (Sub-Collectors / Revenue Divisional Officers / Deputy Collectors / Joint Collectors-II / Municipal Commissioners / Addl. Municipal Commissioners of certain Municipal Corporations), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (Tahsildars / Municipal Commissioners/Deputy Tahsildars) immediately and furnish a certificate that all posts of officers related to the work of roll revision are filled up and that no such post is left vacant by 10.2023.

The Collectors / District Election Officers shall take further necessary action in the matter on top priority in consultation with the administrative departments concerned and ensure that all vacant posts of key election officers are filled up before the draft publication and report any unfilled vacancies by 15.10.2023.

Download G.O.Rt.No.1973 Dated:06.10.2023

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