A fresh legal challenge has been mounted against the Election Commission’s decision to transfer several senior IAS and IPS officers in West Bengal immediately after the announcement of Assembly elections. Trinamool Congress MP and senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee on Friday approached the Calcutta High Court, questioning the legality of the move and seeking urgent judicial intervention.
Banerjee’s petition names Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a party respondent. The matter was mentioned before a division bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, where the petitioner requested an early hearing.
According to the plea, the Election Commission ordered the transfers without consulting the state government. The challenge comes in the backdrop of sweeping administrative changes made within hours of the poll announcement on March 15.
Among those affected were several top-ranking officials, including the state’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director General of Police. The sudden reshuffle of key administrative and law enforcement officers has now become the subject of judicial scrutiny.
A lawyer associated with the case indicated that the High Court is likely to take up the matter early next week.
West Bengal is set to go to polls for its 294-member Legislative Assembly in two phases, scheduled for April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 4.
