Election officers must hold regular meetings with political parties: CEC
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday asked all state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to meet political parties regularly to resolve their issues.
Kumar, addressing the first CEOs’ conference since assuming office last month, asked all officials to work in a transparent manner and as per the existing framework of the Representation of the People, Act, 1950 & 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 and the Election Commission’s instructions.
“He [Kumar] directed officials to be approachable and responsive to political parties. He added that all-party meetings at all statutory levels be held regularly to resolve any issues within the existing statutory framework by the concerned competent authority i.e. ERO or DEO or CEO,” a statement from the Election Commission (EC) said.
He asked the CEOs to submit an action-taken report by March 31. The CEC also said that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) should be trained to behave courteously with electors, while also making sure that no electoral officers are “intimidated by anyone using false claims.”