Election Commission Directs It also directed the transfers of the Senior Superintendent of Police Bathinda in Punjab and the SP Sonitpur in Assam in view of their “kinship or familial association” with elected political representatives
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued transfer orders for non-cadre officers who are posted as District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha and West Bengal, citing its commitment to a level playing field in the Lok Sabha polls to be held from April to June.
It also directed the transfers of the Senior Superintendent of Police Bathinda in Punjab and the SP Sonitpur in Assam in view of their “kinship or familial association” with elected political representatives.
“The officials in these two districts have been transferred as pre-emptive measures to dispel any apprehensions of administration being biased or perceived to be compromised,” the Commission said.
According to an official, the ECI is continuing its strict crackdown by transferring bureaucrats with close ties to the ruling party in their respective states.
On March 18, the Commission ordered the transfer of the Director General Police of West Bengal and the Home Secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
