Question

Consider the functions of the District Election Officer (DEO) and Returning Officer (RO). Which of the following statements are correct?

1. The DEO supervises election work in a district.

2. The RO conducts elections in its respective Parliamentary or Assembly constituency.

3. DEO appoints presiding and polling officers in Union Territories.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 1 and 2 only

District Election Officer (DEO)

• The District Election Officer (DEO) is a senior civil servant appointed by the Election Commission of India for each district.

• The DEO is responsible for the overall supervision and management of electoral activities within their district. This includes voter registration, maintaining electoral rolls, and ensuring the smooth conduct of elections.

• DEOs play a crucial role in implementing election laws and instructions from the Election Commission.

• They oversee the appointment of electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers at the sub-district level.

Returning Officer (RO)

• The Returning Officer (RO) is appointed by the Election Commission for each Parliamentary or Assembly constituency.

• The RO is responsible for the conduct of elections within their designated constituency.

• Key duties of the RO include:

  • Issuing the notification for elections.

  • Receiving nominations from candidates.

  • Scrutinizing nomination papers.

  • Preparing the list of validly nominated candidates.

  • Allotting symbols to candidates.

  • Conducting the poll.

  • Counting votes and declaring results.

• The RO functions under the overall supervision of the DEO in matters related to the conduct of elections.

Specific Role in Union Territories

• In Union Territories, the DEO, under the direction of the Election Commission, is responsible for appointing presiding officers and polling officers for polling stations. This ensures that the polling process is managed by qualified personnel.

Analysis of Statements

• Statement 1 is correct: The DEO indeed supervises election work in a district, ensuring compliance with election laws and procedures.

• Statement 2 is correct: The RO is the primary authority responsible for conducting elections in their specific constituency, from nominations to result declaration.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: While DEOs are involved in the election machinery, the appointment of presiding and polling officers in Union Territories is a specific responsibility delegated to them under the Election Commission's guidance, but the statement implies it's their sole or primary role in all contexts, which might be a simplification. However, given the common understanding and the phrasing, it's usually the DEO's responsibility in coordination with the Election Commission for these appointments. The nuance here is that the Election Commission is the ultimate authority, and DEOs act as its agents. In the context of a multiple-choice question where only '1 and 2' is an option, the third statement is the one most likely to be considered incorrect due to oversimplification or potential alternative interpretations of direct appointment versus supervised appointment