Don’t move officials on poll work: EC to Bihar

Even as the tussle over the transfer of 17 IPS officers between Bihar Governor Buta Singh and Chief Secretary G S Kang took a political turn, the Election Commission today directed the state government not to shift any officials engaged in poll-related work, including district collectors, without its consent.

Taking note of the recent transfer of 17 SPs, following which Kang went on ‘protest leave’, the Commission wrote to the Bihar government: ‘‘No district officer—district collector and deputy collector—in charge of elections, electoral registration officer and assistant electoral registration officer involved in election-related work should now be transferred without the consent of the Commission.’’

On the transfers of SPs, including those of Siwan and Patna, EC sources said they neither violate the model code of conduct nor relate to officials involved in the state’s ongoing election work. ‘‘Therefore, it does not fall within the Commission’s purview,’’ the sources said.