The Election Commission of India (ECI) has informed the West Bengal government about its decision to halt the state-ordered departmental transfers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers from the West Bengal cadre currently on temporary deputation to the Commission for the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) in the state. The ECI’s secretary, Sujeet Kumar Mishra, emphasized the need for the state government to seek prior approval from the Commission before making such transfers in the future.
In a strongly-worded communication to West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, the ECI secretary stressed that no official involved in the SIR process should be transferred without the Commission’s consent during this period. The ECI had appointed 12 electoral roll observers and five divisional commissioners for the SIR, all on deemed deputation to the ECI.
The ECI secretary highlighted that the state government had issued orders for the departmental transfers/postings of three IAS officers – Asvini Kumar Yadav, Randhir Kumar, and Smita Pandey – without the Election Commission’s prior approval, contravening its directives. The ECI directed the immediate cancellation of these transfer orders and requested the state government to seek approval before such actions in the future, with a compliance deadline set for 28.01.2026 at 3:00 p.m.
At present, there has been no response from either the state government or the ruling Trinamool Congress regarding this development.
