Jammu, Nov 29: The High Court today directed to make it sure that the exempted categories of employees were not deputed for election duty.
The court directive came in a petition filed by J&K Veterinary Doctors Association, Jammu, challenging their deputation on election duty on the plea that Election Commission of India (ECI) vide its March 23, 2002, order No 464/Inst/2002/PLN-1 had exempted inter alia, doctors/compounders working in verterinay hospital from being drafted for election duties in view of the essential nature of duties/services being discharged by them.
On October 30, 2014, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, had requested all the district election officers (DEOs) of Jammu division to follow the ECI guidelines. The grievances of the petitioner are that inspite of the clear exemption granted by ECI and the divisional commissioner Jammu, DEO, Samba, was alleged to have deployed polling staff from the veterinary department for the assembly elections.
Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, after hearing the counsel for the petitioners, issued notice to DEO, Samba, and ordered him, that subject to objections in back drop of exemption granted by ECI and communication dated October 30, 2014 issued by the divisional commissioner, to reconsider the matter and ensure that the exemption granted by ECI is strictly complied with and the members of exempted categories were not deputed for election duty. (JNF) |
