: As per the handbook for returning officers issued by the Election Commission of India, officials associated with any local authority, university, government company, any institution undertaken by the government, financially supported by the government can be asked to do poll duty irrespective of their consent at the peril of prosecution.
However, some such as officers of Indian Forest Service, some staff of veterinary hospitals, medical staff including doctors, nurses and ANMs, All India Radio and Doordarshan and staff of commercial banks in rural areas or of a single officer branch have been exempted. Officials who would retire in 6 months or already retired but on extension of service or re-deployed have also been exempted. As for women, only breast feeding mothers, those in advanced stage of pregnancy, or medically advised against hazardous work could get exemption from election duty.
