Play by rule book, officials told

BHUBANESWAR: State Government officials have been directed to maintain strict neutrality during the general election to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).‘It is of utmost importance that Government officials including police at all levels should maintain strict neutrality in the discharge of their duties and do not act in any manner in the furtherance of the prospects of election of any particular candidate or party, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik said in a circular to all heads of departments.Referring to the Orissa Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, the Chief Secretary said that any Government servant and employees of local authority who committed breach of the provisions of Section 28 of the Act will be liable to have his or her service terminated.The Chief Secretary said that official vehicles, machinery and personnel belonging to the Government, public sector units, cooperatives, local bodies and PRIs should not be allowed to be used in the electioneering work in any manner.Government, semi-government, PSUs, local bodies and PRIs have been asked not to issue any advertisement at the cost of the public exchequer portraying the achievements of the Government in power until the completion of the election.The Police Department was also instructed to act on the complaints of criminal intimidation, violence and violations of several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including 153A, 153B, 171B, 171C, 171D, 171G, 171H and 505 promptly and firmly without any bias.While the State Election Commission has banned the transfer of officials involved in the election work, the Chief Secretary said that the ban would apply to all officials actually or likely to be associated with the electioneering process.Secretaries of Government departments, director-general of police, Revenue Divisional Commissioners, heads of the departments and district collectors have been directed not to give ad hoc promotion or temporary appointments at lower levels till February 22, 2012.As per the code of conduct, grant of leave other than casual leave of officials connected with the conduct of election is also prohibited, he said.