CoA issues fresh directions on appointment of electoral officers
New Delhi: The Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Thursday issued clarifications on the eligibility criteria for appointing electoral officers for polls in the BCCI state units.
The original deadline for the appointments of electoral officers was July 1 but the CoA extended it to July 25. The state elections must be held before September 14.
"It is clarified that former Joint or Additional Chief Election Commissioner and Joint or Additional Chief Electoral Officers of States are not eligible for being appointed as the Electoral Officer of the Member Association," the CoA said in a statement.
As of now, around 20 state units are in the process of appointing electoral officers while those who have not will be barred from voting in the BCCI AGM scheduled on October 22, said a board official.
"The Committee of Administrators have noted that certain State Associations have faced difficulties in appointing an Electoral Officer in terms of the aforesaid, specifically, as all States have not set up a State Election Commissions," it said.
"With a view to ensure that the Member Associations do not face difficulties in the appointment of electoral officers for the conduct of the elections and are in a position to comply with the Supreme Court orders, the COA considers it is necessary to issue the directions."
The state association shall appoint an electoral officer from any of the following categories of persons only: A former Chief Election Commissioner of India or former member of the Election Commission of India or a former Election Commissioner of the state.
In case, such person is not available, then former Election Commissioner of a neighbouring state(s) may be appointed, or a former Chief Electoral Officer of the state.
Meanwhile, the Committee of Administrators (COA) will discuss ways to ensure timely state unit polls besides deliberating on former India opener Vikram Rathour's application for the NCA batting consultant's position in its meeting here on Friday.
The extended deadline of appointing electoral officers for the state elections has already ended. The original deadline for the appointments was July 1 but the COA extended it to July 25.
The COA had also instructed the state units to correct inaccuracies in their constitution and make them compliant with Lodha reforms failing which they might lose voting rights for the BCCI elections scheduled for October 22.
According to the timeline announced by the COA in May, the state elections must be held before September 14.
"About 20 of the 36 state units are in the process of appointing electoral officers. This includes prominent associations like the Mumbai Cricket Association. Whichever unit doesn't fall in line will lose its voting rights. As simple as that," a BCCI official told PTI.
Once appointed, the electoral officers will have the task of preparing the list of members, election protocol and electoral roll of the state units by August 14.
Another matter to be discussed in the meeting will be former India opener Rathour's conflict of interest vis-a-vis his application for the role of batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
Earlier, his appointment as India under-19 batting coach was scuttled due to conflict of interest as his brother-in-law Ashish Kapoor is a junior national selector. The 50-year-old played six Tests and seven ODIs for India.
