How can ECI assess our ‘performance’ in three days? Transferred Telangana top cops lash out

Hyderabad: The sudden transfers of 13 top police officials, four district collectors and two commissioners by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the Telangana State elections, has not gone down well in the Telangana bureaucratic circuit. Among many reasons, the ECI cited ‘laxity of work’ as the reason for transfers. However, the police officers termed the move as ‘unjust’ and done in ‘haste’. Fingers point at two senior BJP leaders from Telangana, for filing multiple complaints against these officials resulting in transfers.

Listing the other reasons for the transfers in an official communication, the EC said that the performance of some officers was “unsatisfactory” and that they were found “complacent, if not complicit” in various matters, including the illegal supply of liquor as a possible poll inducement.

On October 11, bureaucrats serving in the Telangana State were caught by surprise when the transfers were announced late evening. Though there were hints along the way of a few police officials at district levels being moved out, what came as a surprise and disappointment to many was the orders to move out Hyderabad Commissioner CV Anand and Warangal Commissioner AV Ranganath.

The list of transferred officials also included 10 Superintendents of Police: M Ramana from Sangareddy, B Srinivas Reddy from Kamareddy, A Bhaskar from Jagtial, K Narasimha from Mahabubnagar, K Manohar from Nagarkurnool, K Srujana from Jogulamba Gadwal, G Chandramohan from Mahabubabad, N Venkateshwarulu from Narayanpet, P Karunakar from Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Rajender Prasad from Suryapet.

The four collectors given transfer orders included S Harish from Rangareddy, D Amoy Kumar from Medchal-Malkajgiri, Vinay Krishna Reddy from Yadadri Bhuvanagiri, and Vishnu Reddy from Nirmal.

Having given no option but to go, certain officials raised a red flag against the transfers.

A senior IPS officer on the list of transferred officers told NewsMeter, “The team from the ECI held a meeting in Telangana on October 4 at Taj Krishna. Five days later on October 9, the election dates were announced and subsequently, the transfer orders were issued on October 11. How were three days enough for the ECI to assess our work? It is only after the election code is announced that the checks and seizures will come into effect. So, how can they make decisions based on ‘poor performance?’ It is sad that the ECI has only listened to a certain political party and took the decision unilaterally.”

Another senior IAS officer on the transfer list said, “The officials of the ECI have been very rigid. So far, the ECI would neither listen to our explanations nor would show any willingness to even meet with us. So how did they decide on ‘unsatisfactory’ answers being the reason for transfers?.

The arrest of former BJP President and MP Bandi Sanjay in the class 10th paper leak case booked under Warangal Commissionerate limits could be one of the reasons behind the transfer of police commissioner A.V Ranganath. Pertinent to note, there were large-scale complaints regarding blatant misuse of money power during the recent by-election to the Munugode assembly seat in Telangana.

IAS officer TK Sridevi- Commissioner Commercial Taxes. took to social media to question ECI on how can her work be accessed when she joined the office 3 days before the ECI held its meeting in Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, the top brass of the BRS met at the Pragathi Bhavan in Hyderabad and finalised the list of officials sought by the ECI. The office of the Telangana chief secretary finalised the list of IPS officers and conveyed the same to the ECI. Three names, holding the rank of additional director general, were proposed for the post of Hyderabad commissioner.

Two names of officers holding the rank of inspector general have been proposed for the posts of Warangal and Nizamabad commissioners, respectively. The ECI will take the final call from the list.

Why did ECI transfer officials?

The Election Commission of India maintains a state record on voter enrollment, deletion, new voters, and seizure of cash, liquor, contraband, and precious metals. A district collector in charge of a district election officer is duty-bound to provide information on voters and the district superintendent of police or commissioner on the cash/gold seizures, respectively.

The performances of the transferred officers have been under review for the last 90 days. When the ECI raised several questions on the voters’ enrollment, deletion, and seizure, a majority of the SPs were pulled up for poor performances. Their answers were unreasonable, a top source told NewsMeter. When the ECI asked pertinent questions to the police officers who had been transferred, the answers were marked unsatisfactory.