‘Tainted’ Returning Officers dropped from poll duty

AHMEDABAD: The Chief Election Officer (CEO) of Gujarat state has transferred, with immediate effect, 16 Returning Officers (ROs) deployed on poll duty in the assembly elections to be held in December 2017. Sources said that out of the 16 ROs transferred, eight had failed to reveal that departmental inquiries were pending against them.
It may be mentioned that the Election Commission has acted on the Supreme Court’s direction (of October-2017) that no official against whom disciplinary proceedings have been initiated, should be posted for election duty during the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.Sources said that out of the eight GAS cadre officers transferred, four are from Ahmedabad district. “Four vacant posts have also been filled by the CEO Gujarat which were vacant,” said a senior officer on poll duty.
It is mentioned in the transfer order that it should be treated as relieving order from the present post. Hence, no formal relieving order shall be required to be passed by the collectors concerned or the head office. It is also mentioned in the order that the officers transferred shall not avail of joining time and they must physically resume duty by 12 noon on Saturday under intimation to the office of the CEO (Gujarat State).
A senior official said that it is mentioned in the transfer order that the officers should also inform deputy secretary (services) and the revenue department about their joining new office. “The order mentions that any noncompliance with the transfer order would invite serious disciplinary action as laid down in rules,” said a senior official.