The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken decisive action to uphold the principles of free, fair, and transparent elections by issuing orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in six states: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the Secretaries of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed.
The commission directed all State Governments to transfer officers involved in election-related work who have completed three years or are serving in their home districts. However, Maharashtra did not fully comply with these directions regarding Municipal Commissioners and some Additional/Deputy Municipal Commissioners.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the Commission instructed the Chief Secretary to transfer the concerned officers by 6 pm. Furthermore, all similarly placed Municipal commissioners and Additional/Deputy Municipal Commissioners in other Corporations in Maharashtra were also directed to be transferred.
This action aligns with the Commission’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. CEC Rajiv Kumar has emphasized this commitment, including during the recent Press Conference for announcing the Schedule for General Elections 2024.
The Commission meeting, chaired by Shri Rajiv Kumar and comprising Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, was held on Monday.
The officials removed in these states were found to be holding dual charges in the office of the Chief Minister, which could compromise impartiality and neutrality, especially in matters related to law and order and deployment of forces during the electoral process.
Additionally, the Election Commission has removed the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal due to earlier instances of being removed from active election management duties during previous elections.
These measures highlight the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections while ensuring integrity and impartiality across all stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
