State govt transfers 62 IPS officials prior to lok sabha election date announcement.
The large- scale transfer of IPS officers is one of the largest in the state in recent times. The orders for police officials’ relocation have come within a week of transferring more than two dozen IAS officials, including some at the top level.
According to EC norms, the government would have been required to move any officer at district and above levels who has been on the same posting for more than three years. In addition, there is a further binding rule which prevents posting of an official in his home district. Once the general election dates are announced, every transfer would need EC approval, which government wanted to avoid, said a top-level government official.
A retired IPS officer, who didn’t want to be named, told DNA that this is one of the biggest transfers of IPS officers in the state, and it indicates that the state will not require any other reshuffle in coming years. “Most of the important posts in the state have been included in this reshuffle and there are very less chances of any other transfer in coming years,” he said.
The officer also said that the state is trying to play a safe game before the code of conduct by the Election Commission comes into force. However, he also said that a small round of IPS transfers could also be seen once the DGP of the state and CP of the city retire.
Ashish Bhatia, the main brain behind the bomb blast police investigations, has been promoted as ADG in Gandhinagar. Bhatia told DNA that this is a routine transfer, which includes the promotion of many officers.
Just like in the case of IAS reshuffle, the latest list of transfers and promotions also includes some IPS heavyweights. These include JCP crime Ashish Bhatia, CP Surat RMS Brar, CP Rajkot SN Sinha and also SIT investigating officers like PL Maal and VV Choudhary, who have been promoted. Geeta Johri is now new CP of Rajkot and Deepak Swarup new CP of Surat.
The announcement of promotion of OP Mathur, SS Khandwavala and RMS Brar to the rank of director general of police had already been made. Interestingly, OP Mathur continues to be commissioner of police, while Brar has been made commandant general home guard and Khandwavala is director, anti-corruption bureau.
Moreover, after the retirement of PC Pande in March, who will take over as the state police head remains to be seen. Khandwavala and Brar are said to be in the race, with Mathur himself slated to retire soon.
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