Just before the final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Union Home Ministry has extended the tenure of the current state Director General of Police (DGP), Siddh Nath Gupta, by six months. Gupta, who was set to retire on April 30, will continue in his role in the public interest. This decision comes amidst a series of replacements and transfers of key police and administrative officials in the state by the Election Commission of India.
The order for Gupta’s extension was issued by the Under Secretary of the Home Ministry, Sanjeev Kumar, to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Dushyant Nariala. This move allows Gupta to serve beyond his scheduled retirement date under the Rule 16(I) (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. The Election Commission had earlier replaced West Bengal DGP Peeyush Pandey with Gupta, a senior IPS officer, along with other top police officials in the state.
Following the Election Commission’s announcement of polling and counting days for West Bengal and other states, a significant reshuffle took place in the state’s administrative and police leadership. Notably, the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary were also replaced, leading to a chain of transfers and appointments in the civil and police services. Despite opposition from the ruling Trinamool Congress and legal challenges, the changes were implemented without court intervention.
