Bilaspur: The Chhattisgarh High Court today (November 28) stayed the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) quashing the Election Commission directive to transfer the collectors of Bastar and Jashpur districts for violating the model code of conduct for the December 1 elections.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice K H N Kuranga and Justice L P Bhado after hearing arguments of the Commission, which had challenged the November 25 CAT order staying the transfers, directed that it be stayed.

Arguing the matter on behalf of the Election Commission, advocate Kanak Tiwari said the issues relating to conduct of free and fair polls cannot be decided by the CAT as it is the subject of the commission.

The CAT also does not have the jurisdiction to hear such cases as the tribunal deals with disputes between the employer and the employee, Tiwari said.

EC also told the court that the collectors have not been removed as a punishment, rather it was a step towards conduct of free and fair polls.

PTI