Election Commission of India bans transfer of poll officials

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive restricting the transfer of officials involved in the Special Summary Revision (SSR) 2027 of electoral rolls. This ban applies to officials working on assembly constituencies with a qualifying date of January 1, 2027, and covers 17 states and Union Territories.

Under Section 13 CC of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, officers engaged in the preparation, revision, and amendment of electoral rolls are considered to be on deputation to the ECI. Consequently, they function under the direct control, supervision, and discipline of the Commission during their deployment.

The directive ensures that key positions, including District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, are not left vacant during the process. No transfers are permitted from the draft publication stage to the final publication stage without prior permission from the Commission.

The scheduled timeline for the revision includes the draft publication of the integrated electoral roll on November 12, 2026. Claims and objections will be accepted from November 12 to December 11, 2026, with disposals completed by December 28, 2026. The final publication of the electoral roll is set for January 4, 2027.