The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Odisha Government to shift an officer directly connected with elections if he or she has completed three years in a district.

The directive came as the present State Legislative Assembly’s term will end on June 11, 2019 and fresh elections will be held.

The ECI has said that if the officer concerned completed three years in the district during last four years or would be completing three years on or before May 31, 2019, he/she will be shifted immediately. While calculating the period of three years, promotion to a post within the district shall be counted, pointed out ECI.

These officers include District Magistrates, ADMs, Sub-Collectors, Deputy Collectors, Tehsildars, BDOs and those appointed as Nodal Officers for any election-specific works.

The directive shall also be applicable to police personnel such as Range IGP, DIGP, SP, Additional SP, SDPO, DSP, Commandant of State Armed Police, Inspector of Police and Sub-Inspector of Police as they will handle security arrangements and deployment of security forces in the district during the election period.

However, the police personnel posted for intelligence, computer and training will not come under the instruction. The ECI has stated that that the transfers and postings of all officers covered under the direction shall be done by February 28, 2019 and the commission has to be notified about the action taken by the State Government by the first week of March 2019.

The ECI has clearly stated that the State Government will ensure that no DEO, RO, ARO, Police Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors or above is posted back or allowed to continue in the district, where the officer was posted during general elections or bye-elections held for Assembly prior to May 31, 2017.

The ECI has also directed that the officers against whom it has recommended disciplinary action in past and which is pending or which has resulted in a penalty or the officers have been charged for any lapse in any election or election-related work in the past shall not be assigned any election related works.

Any officer, against whom criminal case is pending in any court of law shall not be deployed in election-related assignment, the ECI has made it clear too.

The commission has also asked all election-related officers to give a declaration that he/she is not a close relative of any of the contesting candidates in the current election or leading political functionaries of the State and district. The declaration is to be submitted two days after the last date of nomination papers. The existing Lok Sabha will complete its term on June 3, 2019,