IPS Ajay Pal Sharma has been appointed police observer in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.
Uttar Pradesh cadre IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma is in the news these days. He has been deployed by the Election Commission as a Police Observer in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. After receiving information about threatening voters, they reached the door of Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan. He warned that if voters are threatened again, strict action will be taken.
This video of Ajay Pal Sharma went viral. For this reason he is in the news. Let us understand with this excuse, what is the actual work of an observer in elections? How does the role change after becoming an observer of IAS, IPS and IRS?
How special is the role of observers in fair elections?
Elections are held on a very large scale in India. Many parties, many candidates and lakhs of voters participate in it. Therefore, it is important to keep the elections fair and transparent. The Election Commission appoints observers for this work. In common parlance, the observer is also called the eyes and ears of the commission. He goes to the field and sees the real situation. Then gives his report to the commission. The main objective of the observer is the same. Maintaining public confidence in the election process. He ensures that the elections are conducted as per the rules. There should be no pressure on anyone. Vote should not be taken due to money, alcohol, fear or greed. And all the candidates should get equal opportunities.
IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma.
Who are the supervisors?
Observers are generally senior officials of the Central or State Government. These may include officers from IAS, IPS, IRS and other services. They are given special responsibility for the election period. They work separately from the local administration. All these observers report directly to the Election Commission.
Many types of observers are deployed in elections.
There are different types of observers in elections. Everyone’s work and responsibilities are different. But the goal remains the same. Fair elections. Come, let us know what types of supervisors are and what is their role?
- general supervisor: This is the most important officer. Usually the Commission gives this responsibility to a senior IAS officer. Its job is to provide overall monitoring of the elections. Their main job is to ensure a level playing field for the candidates, ensure that the code of conduct is followed, keep an eye on the deployment of officers, identify sensitive areas, settle complaints, monitor booth management on the day of polling and also keep an eye on the process at the time of counting. These observers often meet candidates, parties and common people. Take feedback. Also give necessary instructions when needed.
- Police Supervisor: The job of the officer deployed in this form is to ensure maintenance of law and order. Generally, there is a provision to deploy IPS officers for this work. They are responsible for reviewing the security arrangements on the day of voting, special monitoring of areas prone to violence, taking measures to prevent booth capturing, deployment of additional forces at sensitive booths, etc. It is also their job to keep an eye on weapons, goons and threatening activities, make arrangements for flag marches and patrolling, and ensure immediate action on receiving complaints.
- Expenditure Supervisor: The main responsibility of such officers is to keep an eye on election expenses. Generally, there is a rule to deploy Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers for this work. Mainly such observers monitor the expenditure of the candidate. Bans cash, liquor, gifts and free distribution. Estimate the expenses of advertisements, rallies and vehicles. They are also responsible for reviewing monitoring processes such as shadow registers, reporting suspicious expenditure and recommending investigation, and reporting violations of expenditure limits.
- Other observers: Special observers are also deployed at many places. These include micro-observers, web-casting monitoring, facilities for disabled and senior voters, etc. Their objective is to increase transparency at the booth level. For this, the Election Commission can and does deploy any officer of the Central or State Government. For this it is not necessary that only IAS, IPS or IRS be deployed.
In which stages of the election does the observer work?
The work of an observer is not only on the day of voting. He remains active throughout the election cycle.
- Before and at the time of enrollment: Review of district level preparations. Viewing the list of sensitive areas. Hearing complaints of political parties. To monitor security and other arrangements in the enrollment process.
- During the promotion period: To enforce the code of conduct. Prohibition on misuse of government resources. Action against inflammatory speech and hate propaganda. Their responsibilities are to strengthen the monitoring of social media and advertisements etc.
- Just before voting: Review of arrangements of EVM, VVPAT and other material. Checking of facilities and security at the booths. To see the status of deployment of polling personnel. Making special plans for sensitive booths etc. is also the responsibility of these supervisors.
- polling day: Keep a constant eye on the booths. Getting improvements on long lines, slow process, chaos. Taking immediate action on any complaint of pressure or threat. Their main tasks are the role of polling agents and ensuring peace and order.
- After voting and counting: Monitoring the security and sealing of strong room. Seeing the arrangements of the counting center. Ensuring transparency of the counting process. Reviewing peace arrangements etc. after the results, so that no problems arise.
If there is IAS, IPS, IRS then how does the responsibility change?
This question is very important. Because the basic role of IAS, IPS, IRS is different, but when they become observers in elections, both their perspective and responsibilities change.
No control, monitoring
IAS, IPS, IRS officers perform administrative control in their regular jobs. But after becoming a supervisor, he does not run the entire system by giving direct orders. They monitor. Report to the Commission. Accordingly, guidelines are also given. They see that the local officials work as per the rules. They catch the problem. Then let’s get it rectified.
distance from local pressure
While holding a local post, an officer may come under many kinds of pressure but the supervisor is an external officer. Its network is less connected to local politics. This makes impartial decisions easier and increases public confidence.
reporting line changes
In a normal job the officer reports to the department, secretariat or state government. Upon becoming an observer, his primary reporting is to the Election Commission. This is a huge change. This change increases both freedom and accountability.
In short it can be said that the observer is the representative of the Election Commission. His job is to keep the elections clean and peaceful. He listens to the complaints of the public. Enforces rules to be followed. Protects fairness. When IAS, IPS, IRS officers become observers, their role becomes like a special mission. Their accountability increases directly towards the Commission. Their goal is more the credibility of democracy than any administrative achievement. This is the reason why the observer system is considered the backbone of elections.
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