New Delhi. Indicating that assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are near, the Election Commission asked the Union Territory administration on Wednesday to transfer officers posted in its districts, which is being seen as a pre-poll exercise and a continuing policy of the Commission.

The commission wrote a letter to the chief secretaries of these districts.

Under this, the officers directly involved in the conduct of elections in the state or union territory where elections are being held are not posted in their home districts or places where they have served for an extended period. The Commission has also issued these instructions to the Chief Secretaries of Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand. It is usual for the poll panel to issue directions regarding transfers of officials ahead of Lok Sabha and assembly elections. It recently ordered updating voter lists in Jammu, Kashmir, and three other states.

Election Commission wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Election Commission has written a letter to the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir stating that it is the Commission's policy that officers directly involved in the conduct of elections in a poll-bound State/Union Territory are not posted to their home districts or places where they have been posted for a long time.

Therefore, no officer directly connected with the elections will be allowed to remain in the current district (revenue district). If he is posted in his home district or has completed three years in the said district during the last four years, he should be transferred.