Chandigarh: Haryana State Election Commissioner Sh. Devinder Singh Kalyan has announced the appointment of General, Police and Expenditure Observers to ensure that the upcoming local body elections scheduled for May 10 are conducted in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner, along with strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. The Commission has deployed senior IAS, IPS and HCS officers on “deemed deputation” and assigned them to Ambala, Panchkula, Sonipat and other concerned districts to monitor every stage of the election process.
These observers have been assigned responsibilities across three key categories to oversee all aspects of election management. General Observers, who are senior IAS/HCS officers, will function as representatives of the Commission at the ground level. They will supervise the randomization of EVMs and polling personnel, oversee the nomination process and scrutiny of nomination papers, ensure availability of basic facilities at polling stations, and directly report any irregularities or attempts to influence voters to the Commission.
Police Observers, who are senior IPS/HPS officers, will monitor law and order and security arrangements. They will assess the sensitivity of polling stations, review deployment of police forces and Home Guards, ensure strict enforcement of prohibitory orders on liquor and arms, and oversee the single-window system for granting permissions for rallies and use of loudspeakers.
Expenditure Observers, who are DETC officers, will work to curb the influence of money power in elections. They will monitor candidates’ daily expenditure registers, coordinate with Static Surveillance Teams and Flying Squads to prevent movement of illegal cash or inducements, and ensure adherence to prescribed expenditure limits.
All these observers will remain deployed in their respective districts until the completion of the counting process on May 13, 2026. For the convenience of the public, the contact details of these observers along with their local addresses of stay will be published in local newspapers and on the websites of the respective district administrations. This will enable any citizen, candidate or public representative to directly approach the observers during designated public hearing hours to report violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
