KOCHI: Confusion and frustration have erupted among Kochi City police personnel over reports that they are to be denied convenient access to postal voting in their home constituencies, on the instructions of senior officers.
Concerns are being voiced even as the Election Commission allows essential service personnel — including police, health, and fire and rescue service departments — to apply through both Form 12 (for voters on election duty) and Form 12D (for absentee voters), enabling them to cast votes either at facilitation centres in their respective constituencies or at designated centres.
Moreover, while personnel of other police districts can vote at facilitation centres in their own constituencies, those in Kochi city reportedly face restrictions, requiring them to cast their votes at the only designated centre: Mar Athanasius High School in Kakkanad.
The instruction from higher ups is that all personnel must file only Form 12 and ensure they cast their votes between April 1 and 6,” a sub-inspector with the city police said.
“The instructions issued by senior officials are, prima facie, in violation of guidelines laid down in a circular from the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. There are concerns that many personnel may forgo exercising their voting rights,” he added.
The circular issued by the state police chief on March 20, accessed by TNIE, states: “Heads of Departments (HoDs) of essential services are directed to ensure that their personnel cast postal votes through Form No 12D in their respective constituencies on the prescribed dates. However, due to law and order exigencies and VVIP visit duties during the election period, police officers/personnel cannot be relieved to vote in their home constituencies.”
Commenting on the decision, a police personnel from Mattancherry subdivision, hailing from Kottayam district, said, “Like in previous elections, I travelled to my home constituency on Wednesday itself to avoid last-day duty clashes. However, only after reaching the polling station did I realise that I did not have voting rights there this time.
“Being posted on the suburbs of Kochi, it is difficult for me to travel to Kakkanad to cast my vote during duty hours. Personally, I feel I may have to skip voting this time,” he said.
“As someone with a personal political stance and who understands the importance of voting at this time, I will find time to exercise my democratic right. However, this may not be possible for most personnel engaged in tight duty schedules,” said another officer with Ernakulam Central subdivision.
Meanwhile, a senior official clarified that there was no firm directive, but that personnel have been advised to preferably use designated polling stations to cast their votes, considering the high law-and-order demands in a metropolitan city like Kochi.
As a disciplined force responsible for maintaining public order, it is the duty of the police not only to exercise their own democratic rights but also to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the electoral process for the public, he added.