Power and duties of Officers and employees

The constitution of India (seventy third and seventy fourth Amendment Act, 1992) has vested the powers in the SEC regarding superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for conduct of all elections to the Panchayat sans Municipalities.

Powers of reorganization of Gram Panchayats and Territorial Constituencies and conduct of delimitations of Gram Panchayat, Reservation of seats in Gram Panchayat and Zilla Panchayats and conduct of elections of office bearers' viz. Sabhapati, Up-Sabhapati and Sachiva of Gram Panchayat and Adhakshya and Up Adhaksya vested in the SEC vide the Sikkim Panchayat (Amendment Act, 2007).

In exercise of its plenary powers vested in it by Article 243 K and 243 ZA of the Constitution the SEC appoints all District Collectors cum District Magistrates as Panchayat Electoral Registration Officers and Additional District Magistrates as Assistant Panchayat Electoral Registration Officers for all Gram Panchayat Wards and Territorial Constituencies of Zilla Panchayats falling within their respective districts and sub divisions.

One of the important duties of SEC it to ensure free and fair elections to local bodies by making various arrangements for poll and it is accordingly required to complete the following duties and functions well in time.

1. Setting up of required number of Polling Station in keeping with the convenience of voters.
2. Appointment of Panchayat Returning Officers for conduct of elections.
3. Providing of sufficient man power for poll duties, polling materials and vehicles for conduct of elections.
4. Calling of meetings with the representatives of political parties and contesting candidates for peaceful elections.
5. Issuing of instructions/order to District Returning Officers, Political Parties and State Government for free and fail elections.
6. Appointments of Election Observers who are provided with guidelines to oversee the election are conducted in a free and fair manner.
7. Printing of Ballot Papers in favour of contesting candidates.
8. Security arrangement and maintenance of law and order.
9. Issuing of Model Code of Conduct for strict compliance by Ministers, Government employees , political parties and contesting candidates for conduct of free and fair elections.
10. Fixing of hours for both polling and counting of votes.