The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a letter to the chief secretary Manoj Pant seeking autonomous status for the chief electoral officer (CEO) office in the state.
The ECI has asked Mr Pant to take necessary initiatives so that the CEO office gets autonomy soon. As per the existing system, the CEO office in the state is under the home and hill affairs department. Besides West Bengal, CEO offices in other states enjoy autonomy in terms of financial and administrative functions.
The ECI’s letter to the Mamata Banerjee government hardly 11 months ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled in the state has caused a political stir.
“… the Commission has noted lack of financial and administrative autonomy available to CEO, West Bengal in the existing arrangement, wherein the CEO’s office functions with limited financial powers relying on a minor permanent advance from the finance department. Further, the CEO’s office has been categorized as a subordinate branch of the Home & Hill Affairs Department, which is led by a Principal Secretary level officer whereas the CEO himself is of ACS rank,” the election commission’s letter, dated 17 July, stated.
In light of the above, and keeping in view of the requirements of functional and institutional independence, the commission has directed the state government to take actions immediately.
The ECI has asked Mr Pant saying: “Creation of a separate election department, completely delinked from any other department of the state government. The election department should have a dedicated budget head. This will facilitate full financial and administrative autonomy to the CEO, as required for the effective and impartial conduct of elections.”
“Delegation of suitable financial powers at par with ACS/Pr Secretary/ Secretary of other departments be given to the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal. A separate Financial Advisor needs to be posted in the Election Department to assist the CEO in effective discharge of his official duties,” the letter in possession of The Statesman states.
It also states, “Further, in view of upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal, to ensure institutional preparedness and seamless coordination, you are also requested to fill up the four vacant posts of Addl/Joint/Deputy CEOs,” in the CEO office.
ACS stands for additional chief secretary while Pr Secretary is Principal Secretary.
Political observers felt that the ECI has taken such drastic steps in order to revise the electoral rolls in the state.