In a significant administrative directive to uphold impartiality in the upcoming state Assembly elections of 2026, the Election Commission of India has mandated the transfer of officers involved in election duties across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. This move targets officials posted in their home districts or those who have served extended tenures in the same district.
The instruction, addressed to the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of the five states and Puducherry, comes ahead of the expiration of the current Legislative Assemblies’ terms between May and June 2026. State governments have been tasked to complete these transfers and report compliance by February 28.
The ECI emphasised its longstanding policy that election-related officers should neither be stationed in their home districts nor remain in districts where they have served for a substantial period. Specifically, no official directly linked to election duties may continue in a district if they are in their home district or have completed or will complete three years of service there within the last four years as of the cut-off dates—May 31, 2026, for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, and June 30, 2026, for Puducherry.
This transfer policy encompasses a broad range of officials, including District Election Officers, Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, electoral registration officers, district magistrates, sub-divisional officers, tehsildars, and block development officers engaged in election work.
Moreover, senior and field police officers involved in election security—from ADGs to sub-inspectors—are included under this directive. Police sub-inspectors completing three years in a subdivision must be relocated to a different subdivision outside the same Assembly constituency or even outside the district if necessary. Officers from the Prohibition and Excise Department at the rank of sub-inspector and above are also subject to these transfer rules.
The Commission clarified that the policy is designed to avoid widespread disruption of state machinery, exempting officials stationed at state headquarters and those not directly involved in election duties, such as doctors, engineers, and teachers.
Additionally, any official facing credible allegations of political bias or criminal cases related to their official duties will be barred from election-related responsibilities. Officials retiring before the cut-off dates are exempt from transfer and will not be assigned sensitive election roles.
All election officers must submit declarations affirming they are not closely related to any contesting candidate or prominent political figure and that no criminal case is pending against them. False declarations will result in disciplinary action.
An ECI spokesperson highlighted that these measures aim to reinforce neutrality and enhance public trust in the electoral process at the grassroots level.
State governments are required to promptly issue and enforce transfer orders, ensuring immediate handover of charge, with copies sent to the respective Chief Electoral Officers. Strict adherence is expected, and any implementation challenges should be communicated to the Commission via the CEO for possible exemptions.
The Assembly terms in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal will end between May 7 and May 23, 2026, while Puducherry’s term concludes in June 2026, setting the stage for critical elections later that year.