The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued transfer orders for non-cadre officers holding leadership positions as District Magistrates (DM) and Superintendents of Police (SP) in four states, namely, Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha, and West Bengal.
The positions of DM and SP in the districts are reserved for officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), respectively.
The Commission said that this action demonstrates its dedication and promise to maintain fairness and uphold the integrity of the electoral process, a sentiment repeatedly emphasised by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The decision was made after the commission convened a meeting chaired by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The Commission has also directed the transfer of SSP Bathinda in Punjab and SP Sonitpur in Assam due to their familial associations with elected political representatives. This preemptive measure aims to dispel any concerns of biased administration or perceived compromise.
Under the directive, all respective state governments have been instructed to promptly transfer non-cadre officers from their current roles as DM and SP/SSP, effective immediately, and submit a compliance report to the Commission.
Earlier on March 18, in a decisive move toward upholding the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in six states: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
