The Election Commission of India (ECI) today directed home secretaries of six states to be dismissed, including Gujarat, where Pankaj Joshi has been removed from his post.
In his place, the ECI has appointed 1989-batch IAS AK Rakesh.
Rakesh will assume additional charge as Gujarat home secretary. He currently serves as the chief secretary of Gujarat agriculture, farmers’ welfare and cooperation department.
The decision was taken after a meeting was held this afternoon by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.
Along with Gujarat, the ECI ordered the transfer of home secretaries from five other states, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
In addition to these transfers, the ECI also took action against West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP), Rajeev Kumar, signalling a proactive stance in maintaining electoral integrity.
This decision comes amidst preparations for the highly anticipated national polls.
The CEC removed the secretaries of the General Administrative Departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, as well as Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with additional commissioners and deputy commissioners.
The ECI’s directive mandated the transfer of officers involved in election-related duties who had either completed three years in their current roles or were stationed in their home districts.
While most states complied with these instructions, Maharashtra’s response fell short of expectations.