Guwahati, 21st March: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued transfer orders for non-cadre officers serving as District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) in several states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha, and West Bengal, in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
Typically, these positions are filled by officers from the Indian Administrative and Indian Police Service. The ECI stated that this move underscores its commitment to maintaining fairness and upholding the integrity of the electoral process, a sentiment reinforced by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The decision to transfer several officers was made following a meeting convened by the Commission, chaired by CEC Rajiv Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The officers set for transfer include SPs from Chhota Udaipur and Ahmedabad Rural districts in Gujarat, SSPs from Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar Rural, and Malerkotla districts in Punjab. DM of Dhenkanal and SPs of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural in Odisha, along with DM of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, and Birbhum districts of West Bengal, will also be transferred.
Additionally, SSP Bathinda in Punjab and SP Sonitpur in Assam are slated for transfer due to their familial ties with elected political representatives. This preemptive measure aims to eliminate any potential bias or compromise in administration.
The ECI’s proactive approach in ensuring the impartiality and integrity of the electoral process underscores its commitment to upholding democratic principles and conducting free and fair elections.
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