Be approachable, responsive to parties: CEC tells poll officials

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday directed officials working under the poll panel, including Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs), to function transparently, and be approachable and responsive to political parties, while strictly adhering to the legal framework.

- Mukesh Ranjan @ New Delhi

Addressing a two-day conference organised by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for poll personnel beginning on Tuesday, Kumar said, "Officials, including all the CEOs, DEOs, EROs, and BLOs, across the country should work transparently and fulfil all statutory obligations diligently and as per the existing legal framework i.e. the RP Act 1950 and 1951, Registration of Elector Rules 1960, Conduct of Election Rules 1961 and the instructions issued by ECI from time to time."

The CEC issued these directions to the officials in the presence of Election Commissioners (ECs) Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. It is to be noted that this is the first such conference to be held since Kumar assumed charge as the CEC.