The Collectors were required to provide a list of officers who are employed in their home districts and have served their current posting for three years or more by the Revenue and Disaster Management department.
The government action is related to election preparation for 2024. The Revenue department’s additional secretary instructed the Collectors to submit the list by May 29 in the letter.
“You are requested to submit the name of the OAS-A (JB)/ORS Group B officers by 29.05.2023 in the prescribed format enclosed who are posted in his/her home District and the officers who have completed three years during last four years or would be completing 3 years in the district on or before the last day of the fifth month during which the house is going to expire,” the letter stated.
The revenue department cited a letter the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha & ACS to the government regarding the transfer and posting of officers for preparation of the general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly in 2024 in his communication to all district Collectors and election officers.
Regarding the posting of officers, the Election Commission has rigorous guidelines.
According to the CEO, the Commission’s instructions apply to all district-level officers, including additional district magistrates, deputy collectors, additional sub-collectors, tahasildars, block development officers, assistant collectors, and any other officer whose use is proposed in connection with elections. This includes officers such as the District Election Officer (Collector), returning officers, and assistant returning officers.
The Range IG, DIGs, Commandants of State Armed Police, SSPs, SPs, Addl. SPs, Sub-Divisional Head of Police, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and Sergeant Majors who are in charge of force deployment in the district during election time must also follow these orders.
To avoid the need for a significant amount of officer relocation following the formal announcement of the General Election, this policy must be put into effect even before the announcement. Also, if police are transferred and posted in advance, the election process won’t be disrupted and it would be easier for them to familiarise themselves with their new location.
Prasanta Patnaik