The EC sought the transfer of top civil and police functionaries including DGP Bua Singh, who felt 'humiliated' and sought voluntary retirement.
NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Cracking the whip on officials perceived to be close to the ruling party in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission on Wednesday sought the transfer of top civil and police functionaries including DGP Bua Singh, who felt "humiliated" and sought voluntary retirement.
In a bid to ensure free and fair polls, the Commission wrote to Chief Secretary N C Bajpai, asking him to suggest a panel of names by 10am Thursday for replacing Bua Singh, Additional DGP A C Sharma and Principal Home Secretary Satish Kumar Aggarwal.
It also sought names for replacing Etah District Magistrate Ram Kumar, Kanpur Inspector General Rizwan Ahmed, Meerut's Commissioner and SSP and Sahranpur's DM.
The Commission's action came in the wake of complaints by opposition parties that had questioned the integrity of the officials and accused them of being close to the Samajwadi Party.
Shortly thereafter, Bua Singh called a press conference to announce that he had sought voluntary retirement as he felt "humiliated" following the Commission's directive. "Mere saath anyay kiya hai Ayog ne (The Commission has done injustice to me)," said Singh, who was due to retire in a couple of months.
Singh said his honesty and impartiality was never called into question in the past. "I am proceeding on voluntary retirement from today itself."
He defended his participation in a programme organised by the Samajwadi Party at its headquarters here recently, saying that it was an official event.
"Even the High Court has said that it was an official programme," Singh said, adding that the chief secretary and 52 other senior officers attended the programme.
A 1973 batch IPS officer, Singh served in Punjab during the days of militancy and had undertaken a special assignment in Russia.
He said in reply to a question that he would not enter politics.
The Election Commission also appointed new DIGs in Agra and Meerut and an additional SP in Khiri. The incumbents in these places were transferred on the basis of past indictments by the poll panel, official sources said.
The Congress hailed the Commission's decision as a "welcome move" but said more needed to be done to ensure free and fair polls. "...it is only a beginning. It is in a sense the tip of the iceberg," said party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}