SHILLONG, Nov 7: With Assembly elections only months away, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a slew of directions to Meghalaya and other poll-bound states like Nagaland and Tripura in regard with posting of officers.
The ECI’s letter to the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer states that the term of the existing legislative assemblies of Meghalaya is due to expire on March 15 next year.
The Commission has been following a consistent policy which says that officers directly connected with conduct of elections in any poll-bound state or union territory will not be posted in their home districts or places where they have served for a considerably long period.
“The Commission has decided that no officer connected directly with elections shall be allowed to continue in the present district (revenue district) of posting if she/he is posted in her/his home district, if she/he has completed three years in that district during last four years or would be completing 3 years on or before 31st March, 2023,” the letter stated.
“While calculating the period of three years, promotion to a post within the district is to be counted,” the letter stated.
If any small state/UT with a few number of districts, faces any difficulty in compliance of the instruction, then it may refer the specific case with reasons to the Commission through CEO for exemption and the Commission would issue directions, if considered necessary, it added.
