Before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued directives on Monday for the dismissal of West Bengal’s Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Chahal, along with several other senior officials across various states. This action by the ECI is portrayed as a decisive step to uphold the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections.
The ECI mandated the removal of key officials from six states, including Home Secretaries from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the General Administrative Department secretaries in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have been relieved of their duties.
The Director General of Police came under scrutiny following criticism from the BJP and other opposition parties regarding the alleged inaction of the Bengal police in addressing the grievances of the Sandeshkhali victims. Tensions escalated in the Sandeshkhali area as female protestors demanded justice for purported atrocities committed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates.
Moreover, the Election Commission directed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related duties who have served three years in their current positions or are stationed in their home districts. However, Maharashtra did not comply with these directives regarding certain Municipal Commissioners and additional/deputy Municipal Commissioners. Expressing dissatisfaction to the Chief Secretary, the Commission ordered the transfer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner and additional/deputy commissioners by 6 PM on the same day. Additionally, the Chief Secretary was instructed to transfer similarly positioned Municipal Commissioners and additional/deputy Municipal Commissioners in other corporations across Maharashtra.
These measures are in line with the Commission’s dedication to ensuring a fair and impartial electoral process, as reiterated by CEC Rajiv Kumar during the recent press conference announcing the schedule for the 2024 General Elections. The Commission meeting chaired by Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, was held at noon.
The officials removed from their positions in these seven states were found to hold dual charges in the office of the Chief Minister, potentially compromising the required impartiality and neutrality, especially concerning law and order and the deployment of forces during the electoral process. These actions aim to uphold the highest standards of integrity and impartiality among all stakeholders, thereby preserving a level playing field throughout the electoral process.