ECI Extends Neutrality Rules to Re-employed Officials in Poll-Bound States
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
The Election Commission of India has extended political neutrality restrictions to retired and re-employed government officials working in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. In a November 9 letter to chief secretaries and chief electoral officers, the ECI noted a lack of specific rules governing such personnel during the Model Code of Conduct period and mandated that standard government servant prohibitions apply to them. The directive bars these re-employed individuals from summoning election-related officers for meetings or video conferences and warns that any violations will be viewed seriously. The commission stated the decision stems from complaints received during previous elections regarding the political conduct of individuals retained by state governments post-retirement. The rules draw upon foundational instructions from 1984 and 1991 prohibiting government employees from campaigning or lending official authority to any
Why it matters
The directive closes a regulatory loophole to ensure electoral fairness and prevent state-backed influence by retired officials during state assembly elections.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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