Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at ensuring a level playing field in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notification directing the transfer of key administrative and police officials in various districts across Odisha and several other states.
The notification, issued on Thursday, targets the transfer of District Collector of Dhenkanal and Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural districts in Odisha. Additionally, it includes transfers of officials in Gujarat, Punjab, and West Bengal, where relatives of prominent politicians hold positions as District Magistrates (DMs) or SPs.
A total of eight en-cadre SPs and SSPs, along with five non-cadre DMs, are affected by this order, reflecting the Commission’s commitment to maintaining fairness and impartiality in the electoral process.
The decision to transfer these officials was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
The transferred officers in Odisha include the DM of Dhenkanal and SPs of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural districts. In Gujarat, the SPs of Chhota Udaipur and Ahmedabad Rural districts are affected, while in Punjab, transfers include SSPs of Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar Rural, and Malerkotla districts. West Bengal sees transfers of DMs of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, and Birbhum districts.
Furthermore, the Commission has directed the transfer of SSP Bathinda in Punjab and SP Sonitpur in Assam due to their familial associations with elected political representatives. These preemptive measures are aimed at dispelling any concerns regarding the impartiality or neutrality of the administration during the electoral process.
