With announcement of General Elections expected anytime now, the Punjab Government is on a transfer posting spree of officials before the model code of conduct sets in.
It is ordering large-scale transfers of the babus and cops to ensure the presence of the right man at the right place just before the 2014 parliamentary elections. The State Government has transferred around 200 officers — including those of Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Punjab Police Service (PPS), Punjab Civil Service (PCS), among others — in the past 50 days this year.
The Punjab Government on Wednesday only issued transfer and posting orders of two IPS and 12 PPS officers. Before that, as many as 12 IPS and 60 PPS officers, besides 33 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) have been transferred. On the administrative front, nine IAS officers, 30 PCS officers, and 49 revenue officials including tehsildars and district revenue officers were shifted.
large scale transfers — both administrative and police — before the elections are not uncommon. In the past also, such large scale transfers, just before the polls, were made by the ruling party in the State. Almost every day, the State Government is transferring out, on an average, three to four officers since January 1 this year. Among those transferred and given new postings include zonal Inspector General of Police (IGPs), deputy inspector general (DIGs), Municipal Corporation Commissioners, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Assistant Commissioner of police (ACPs), DSPs, Superintendents of Police (SPs), among others.
While the SAD-BJP led State Government is leaving no stone unturned to have its “own men” posted at sensitive places, the combine may find its plans defeated with pressure building up for the transfer of the state Director General of Police (DGP) by the Opposition. The Congress party has been fighting tooth and nail to transfer out the State police chief Sumedh Singh Saini citing the “pending criminal case” against him. As the State Election Commission is currently looking into the complaint by the Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the party’s senior leaders including State party chief Partap Singh Bajwa have also submitted a memorandum seeking DGP’s transfer to ensure free and fair polls.”
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 19 issued detailed guidelines regarding postings and transfers of officers in view of 2014 lok Sabha Election 2014 maintaining that any officer serving in home districts, or who have completed three-year service in a district would be shifted out. The guidelines were issued to all the Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, and the Commission had also asked for action taken report on the same.
As per the instructions, no officer connected with elections, directly or indirectly, should be allowed to continue present district of posting in case they are posted in their home district or if completed three-year in that district during last four year or would be completing three year on or before May 31, 2014. Besides officers appointed for specific duty — like district election officers, deputy election officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers, the instructions also covered other district officers including additional district magistrates, deputy collectors, SDMs , Tehsildars, BDOs or any other officer proposed to be deployed for election work. In case if police departments, the ECI instructions are applicable to Range IGs, DIGs, Commandants of state armed police, SSPs, SPs, Additional SPs, Sub-Divisional Head of Police, Inspectors or equivalent rank who are responsible of deployment of police force in the district at the election time.
The Commission has also made it clear “no officer or official against whom a criminal case is pending in any court of law be associated with election work or election duty” — a plea taken by the Congress party seeking DGP Saini’s transfer from the top-post.Coming to his rescue, the Punjab government has sent the report in Saini’s favour citing the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s judgment in DGP’s favour. Now, the state election commission is examining the allegations in Congress’ complaint, and claims of the Government’s reports.