In a bid to ensure free and fair elections, the Election Commission (EC) shot off letters to the chief secretaries of the poll-bound states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram asking them to immediately transfer those IAS and IPS officers who have been serving for four years or more in one particular district. The move is apparently aimed at breaking the district-level nexus between the local politicians and the long-serving officers. The EC wants the transfer process to be over before the election process begins in the right earnest.To identify such officer, the Commission has asked its state representatives to conduct a detailed survey and send the finding to Delhi forthwith and also remove the officers immediately.The EC letters also mention that the officers who are connected with the conduct of elections do not serve their home districts.The policy of the Commission has been that the officers who have worked for four years or more in the same district shall also be transferred out so that conditions for free and fair elections become apparent to all.This direction includes officers appointed for election duties, like district election officers, returning officers, district magistrates and deputy collectors.As for the police force, the transfer rule applies to all those in the range of IGs, DIGs, SSPs to sub-inspectors. However, the rule does not apply to officers in the state headquarters.Furthermore, sources said, the EC asked the chief secretaries to consult the chief election officers before fresh appointment are made.Last time, the EC issued such a transfer order was during the UP elections. The police officers who had been transferred in the process had gone to the High Court asking for stay order but their plea was rejected.
