Comply only with written orders: EC to UP officers

The commission ordered the district officers to comply with “only those written orders” that are in compliance with the instructions of the commission. Sources said that some officers in the districts had complained that they were getting oral instructions through telephone for poll management by senior officers. On scrutiny,it came out that such instructions were being given to SPs and DMs,who become district election officers during elections.

“Issuing any instruction to any officer designated for conduct of election is….unwarranted’’,wrote Srivastava. Also it is outside the jurisdiction of the officers issuing such instructions,he added.

The commission reminded the Chief Secretary that under Article 324 of Constitution of India,the commission has been given responsibility for “superintendence,direction and control” of “free and fair elections” in the country. Thus,any officer,including police officers designated by the state government in election duty,“shall be deemed to be on deputation to the Election Commission” till election results are announced.

Not only this,the commission in its instructions to the Chief Secretary mentioned that it is under its power to ensure that “there is no scope for public complaints that the political executive/government of the day is misusing the governmental machinery for political purposes.”

The letter addressed to Chief Secretary has been circulated to all district level officers with clear instructions that from now on,no field officer would obey any oral or telephonic instructions issued by senior Uttar Pradesh secretariat officers for poll management.