UP panchayat polls: Poll body questions mass transfer

UP State Election Commission (SEC) on Wednesday sought an explanation from the state government over mass transfer of IAS, IPS, PCS and PPS officers and asked if the reshuffle was done after the poll code came into effect following notification for panchayat polls.

"Separate letters have been written to home and appointment departments to clarify whether transfers were done after model code of conduct came into effect," Additional State Election Commissioner J P Singh told a news agency.

On Sunday night, the UP government transferred 23 IAS and 42 IPS officers, including Chief Executive Officer of Greater Noida Rama Raman, who was replaced by Secretary (Higher Education) Anil Garg.

The government had on Tuesday issued a list of 12 IAS, 10 PCS and 21 IPS officers, which included SPs of nine districts.