The Calcutta High Court concluded the preliminary hearing on a public interest litigation challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision to transfer top bureaucrats and police officers in West Bengal. The ECI’s counsel argued that such transfers vary based on the state’s specific requirements. The next hearing on the PIL, which objected to the transfers of key officials, is scheduled for Wednesday before a division bench.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, representing the petitioner, questioned the ECI’s authority to transfer officers at will. He highlighted that the officers were under the ECI’s control during a special revision in the state without any prior dissatisfaction. The West Bengal Advocate General, Kishor Datta, also raised concerns about the ECI’s power to remove officers not directly involved in electoral duties.
The ECI’s counsel defended the decisions, emphasizing the need for a fair and violence-free polling process. He explained that actions were taken based on the unique situations in different states where voting is ongoing. The counsel provided details of officer transfers in other poll-bound states to the court for reference.
