Nagaland Police personnel designated as poll officials

DIMAPUR — In accordance with the standing instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Governor of Nagaland has appointed all personnel within the Nagaland Police, from the Director General of Police to constables, as well as home guards and village guards, as election-related officials.

According to a DIPR report, it comes into effect from the date of notification for the election until the completion of the general elections.

Police officials involved in any way in election-related arrangements and duties connected with the conduct of said elections are, by law, officers of the election commission.

They are deemed to be in deputation to it and are subject to its control, supervision, and discipline. As such, they are answerable to the election commission for any acts of commission or omission on their part while performing any election-related duties.

ECI constitutes screening committee

Meanwhile, a screening committee chaired by the chief secretary has been constituted to examine proposals related to the model code of conduct (MCC). The committee also includes the principal secretary of the department of Home as member-secretary.

The committee will review each MCC proposal in light of the ECl’s existing instructions/clarifications, which are available in the form of a manual on MCC/compendium of instructions on the ECI website.

The proposals cleared are to be submitted along with full details of the chief electoral officer (CEO), Nagaland. A note on urgency, i.e., why the proposal cannot wait until the completion of poll/election needs to be attached.

Departments have been advised not to send any references directly to the ECI. Additionally, they are not to send the original file to the CEO’s office. Only a self-contained reference to approved proposals should be sent.

The CEO would forward to the ECI only those proposals that have been cleared by the screening committee, along with his comments.

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