Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issued orders for the removal of the Home Secretary in six states namely Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, according to the sources, news agency ANI reported.
Additionally, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed. The poll body has also taken the necessary action to remove the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal.
Days after releasing the schedule for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, instructed the removal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with additional commissioners and deputy commissioners.
"The Election Commission of India (ECI) has also removed Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and Additional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. ECI has also removed Secretary GAD Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh who are holding charge in respective CM’s Office," ANI reported citing sources.
The commission has instructed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related duties if they had served for three years or were stationed in their home districts, news agency PTI reported. Maharashtra had not fully complied with these directives regarding several municipal commissioners, as well as some additional and deputy municipal commissioners.
Expressing dissatisfaction to the state chief secretary, the commission ordered the transfer of BMC officials, along with additional and deputy commissioners, with a deadline to report by 6 pm on Monday.