Karnal: Poll workers are instructed not to leave the station without authorization
Employees and officials are not allowed to leave their posts without authorization, particularly those on poll duty for the Karnal Lok Sabha and the Assembly seat byelection. Uttam Singh, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer, has issued the direction with the aim of improving accountability, optimizing resource use across many agencies, and minimizing disturbances during the voting process.
The DC was quite clear that the leave would only be approved for medical reasons in the most dire circumstances. A medical certificate from the Civil Surgeon must be submitted by the applicant. He said that only the DC office would receive the applications. “All department heads have received instructions to advise on-duty staff members not to leave the station without authorization. These guidelines will be in place until June 6, when the model code of conduct expires. Before leaving the station, the authorities must get authorization, according to Uttam Singh.
He stated that stringent norms for seeking medical leave had previously been released by the Election Commission. The DC said, “Leave can be granted to the employees only when it is absolutely necessary on health grounds due to the electoral duties.”
If any department submitted applications directly instead than via the DC office, he said, action would be taken.
As per the standards set out by the Election Commission, some officials or workers often attempt to seek a medical leave in order to avoid doing election-related tasks, and they also manage to get a medical certificate from some source.
According to the DC, officials and staff had significant duties during the elections and were expected to abide by the rules. “Action can be taken under the code of conduct rules if the relevant department sends leave applications directly instead of sending through the DC office,” he said.
No worker should attempt to take unneeded time off in order to avoid doing their duties, he stated.
