During the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission (EC) failed to act on requests from Director General of Police (Elections) Ashutosh Shukla to transfer a few top police officers, which he felt was necessary for the conduct of free and fair elections, it is reliably learnt. Mr. Shukla was on April 10 appointed DGP (Elections) by the EC and entrusted with the task of supervising all election-related work involving the police after several leaders, including DMK president M.K. Stalin, had sought stripping DGP T.K. Rajendran of election duties.
Sources in the State Secretariat told The Hindu that on April 14 Mr. Shukla had written to Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, urging him to transfer Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) N. Sathiyamoorthy and appoint another officer in his place. His letter followed discussions on the subject with Mr. Sahoo.
“He (Sathiyamoorthy) need not be entrusted with election-related work in the current Parliamentary elections so that free and fair polling can be conducted in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Shukla is learnt to have recommended. Besides he suggested “full additional charge” of the Intelligence wing be given to ADGP (Administration) Kandasamy.
Incidentally during the 2016 Assembly elections, Mr. Sathiyamoorthy was removed by the EC from his current post to ensure fair elections. This time, though, it did not act on the recommendations of the DGP (Elections). Mr. Stalin had sought the officer’s transfer last month as well.
Sources said that Mr. Shukla had also sought the transfer of Inspector General of Police-West Zone and Superintendent of Police (Intelligence), Chennai and appointment of other officers in their place. This too was not acted upon.
“We do not know why the EC did not act on the recommendations of Mr. Shukla, who wrote four letters to the CEO on the subject of transfer of officials,” the sources added.
The Hindu made multiple attempts to contact Mr. Sahoo to get his reaction. But he did not respond to calls and text messages.