In a bid to ensure a level playing field during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued transfer orders for non-cadre officers holding leadership positions as District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police in four states – Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha, and West Bengal. These positions are traditionally held by officers from the IAS and IPS respectively.
The decision came following a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Here are the details of the officers to be transferred:
- Gujarat: SPs of Chhota Udaipur and Ahmedabad Rural districts
- Punjab: SSPs of Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar Rural, and Malerkotla districts
- Odisha: DM of Dhenkanal and SPs of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural districts
- West Bengal: DMs of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, and Birbhum districts
In addition to these transfers, the Commission has directed the transfer of SSP Bathinda in Punjab and SP Sonitpur in Assam due to their familial association with elected political representatives. These transfers are seen as pre-emptive measures to allay any concerns of bias or compromised administration.
The respective state governments have been instructed to promptly transfer the non-encadred officers from their current roles as DMs and SPs/SSPs with immediate effect. They are required to submit a compliance report to the Commission.
The Election Commission’s move underscores its commitment to ensuring fair and impartial conduct of elections, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process across states.
