Kolkata: The Government of West Bengal has sent a list of 12 IPS officers to the Election Commission of India (EC) seeking approval for their deployment to key policing positions left vacant after a large-scale transfer exercise ordered by the EC during the ongoing election period.
The proposal, submitted on Wednesday, is part of the process for filling senior administrative and policing posts that require prior EC clearance once the poll process is underway. Officials said the move aims to restore operational efficiency in critical police units where senior positions remain unfilled following recent reshuffles.
31 IPS Officers and 184 Inspectors Already Removed by EC
According to officials, the Election Commission has so far ordered the removal of:
- 31 IPS officers
- 184 inspectors
These officers have also been barred from any election-related duties. The large-scale transfers have created challenges for deployment planning, particularly in districts and commissionerates where experienced officers were previously holding sensitive assignments.
Vacancies Across Kolkata and Major Commissionerates
The West Bengal government’s proposal seeks EC approval to fill vacant positions in several important policing units. Key posts proposed for deployment include:
- Deputy Commissioners in Kolkata Police
- Deputy Commissioners in two battalions of Kolkata Police Armed Force
- Senior positions in Bidhannagar Commissionerate
- Assignments in Barrackpore Commissionerate
- Posts in Siliguri Police Commissionerate
- Vacancies in Chandannagar Commissionerate
- Positions under Sundarban Police District
These vacancies emerged following the transfer of officers under EC directives.
Home Department Cites Difficulty in Finding Eligible Officers
A senior official from the state Home Department stated that identifying officers eligible for election deployment has become increasingly difficult due to the large-scale transfers.
“We are struggling to find officers who have not been removed from election-related posts, so we sent this proposal,” the official said.
The challenge is further compounded as many experienced officers previously handling election-sensitive duties are no longer available for immediate deployment.
Less Than a Month Left, Administrative Pressure Increases
Police sources highlighted that the timing of the vacancies has created significant pressure, with less than a month remaining before the election process concludes. The removal of senior officers has affected:
- Law and order management
- Force coordination
- Election deployment planning
- Urban policing supervision
Filling these posts with officers of equivalent experience on short notice remains a major administrative challenge.
One Proposed Officer Previously Removed by EC
Sources noted that one officer included in the new list had earlier been removed by the EC. Officials clarified that the officer is now proposed for non-election duty, which may be permissible subject to EC approval. This demonstrates the state’s effort to utilize available senior officers in operational roles wherever possible.
Awaiting Election Commission Approval
The West Bengal government is now awaiting formal clearance from the EC before issuing deployment orders. Until approval is received, several sensitive posts are expected to remain under temporary arrangements, as the EC has final authority over postings during the election period to ensure neutrality and administrative fairness.
