In anticipation of the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, the Election Commission (EC) has issued directives to transfer officials posted in their home districts. This is a routine measure taken by the EC to ensure impartiality and fairness in the electoral process.

The guidelines stipulate that any official connected with election duties who has served for three years in the same district during the past four years must be transferred. This includes time spent after promotion. Mandatory transfers apply to key positions such as District Election Officers or District Magistrates, Additional Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, Additional District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers, Deputy or Joint Collectors, and Block Development Officers.

The directive extends to the police department, encompassing Additional Directors General, Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, Senior Superintendents of Police, Superintendents of Police, and Additional Superintendents of Police. Furthermore, officials who served as District Magistrates, Returning Officers, or Police Inspectors in any district during the last Assembly election or any by-election are barred from being posted in the same district again.

However, some exemptions exist. Officials posted at the headquarters level, including those working at Nabanna, are exempt from this transfer policy. Additionally, officials due to retire during May–June of this year will not be transferred, but they will not be assigned any election-related duties.

The Election Commission has instructed the state governments to comply with these directives and submit a report by August 20. The EC's actions underscore its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections. To further ensure the integrity of the electoral process, the EC briefed 1444 observers for the upcoming assembly elections in the five states.

In related news, the Election Commission has extended the special intensive revision (SIR) deadline in West Bengal by two weeks, with final rolls expected by February 28. The EC has also directed the West Bengal Home and Hill Affairs Department to complete the transfer and posting of all police personnel directly connected with election duties by February 15.