Q. With reference to various officers responsible for conduct of elections in India, consider the following pairs:
Officer Responsibility
1. Presiding Officer Oversee the conduct of elections in the entire constituency during assembly elections
2. Returning Officer Oversee the conduct of the election at a single polling booth only
3. Electoral Registration Officer Preparation of the electoral roll
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission of India is vested with the power of superintendence, direction and control of conducting the elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The elections are conducted by an election machinery which comprises a number of officers. Some of them are.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Presiding Officer is responsible for overseeing the conducts of the poll at a polling station. He is assisted by the polling officers. They are appointed by the District Election Officer (DEO). In the case of Union Territories (UTs), such appointments are made by the Returning Officers.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Returning Officer (RO) is responsible for the conduct of elections in the Parliamentary or assembly constituency concerned. The Election Commission of India nominates or designates an officer of the Government or a local authority as the Returning Officer for each of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies in consultation with the State Government / Union Territory Administration. In addition, the Election Commission of India also appoints one or more Assistant Returning Officers (ARO) for each of the assembly and Parliamentary constituencies to assist the Returning Officer in the performance of his functions in connection with the conduct of elections.
Statement 3 is correct. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls for a Parliamentary / assembly constituency. The Election Commission of India, in consultation with the state / UT government, appoints an officer of the government or the local authorities as the Electoral Registration Officer. In addition, the Election Commission of India also appoints one or more Assistant Electoral Registration Officers to assist the Electoral Registration Officer in the performance of his functions in the matter of preparation / revision of electoral rolls.
