EC Asks WB Govt To Cancel Transfer Of 3 IAS Officers, Posted On SIR Job

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) has directed the West Bengal government to cancel the recently issued transfer order of three IAS officers for not obtaining permission for transfer despite instructions during the special intensive revision (SIR) of voter list. It also requested compliance by 5pm on Wednesday.

The three bureaucrats were appointed by the EC as electoral roll observers in various districts to monitor the SIR. While Asvini Kumar Yadav was in charge of North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur, Randhir Kumar was in charge of North 24 Parganas and Kolkata North and Smita Pandey was in charge of Burdwan East, Burdwan West and Birbhum.

In a letter to state chief secretary Nandini Chakravorty on Tuesday, the EC said it had noticed that Mr Yadav was transferred on December 1 last year, while Mr Kumar was transferred on January 20 along with Ms Pandey on January 21, catching the government in a wrong position.

“However, the transfers of these officials have been ordered without the approval of the Election Commission, which is contrary to the above-mentioned order of the commission dated 27.10.2025. In view of the above, I am requested to state that the transfer decisions should be canceled immediately. It is also requested to obtain the prior approval of the commission before making such a decision in the future.”