Notwithstanding the huge embarrassment during the LS elections over the posting and transfer of IPS officials and bureaucrats, the Mahayuti govt has not learnt its lesson.
More than a month before that election, the EC sent a comprehensive circular on the posting and transfer of officials. The guidelines were clear: No officer was to continue in his/her hometown and those who had been at their post for three years were to be shunted out.
But govt assumed that municipal commissioners were exempt from the three-year rule since they were not directly involved with election work and did not transfer any of them. The EC gave a stern warning to the state govt, saying the guidelines covered civic chiefs, following which they were shifted.
Given that scenario, it was expected that before the assembly polls, govt would shift all officials who fell under the purview of a fresh EC circular. It was found that besides half a dozen IPS officers in Mumbai, 130 police inspectors and sub-inspectors were eligible to be transferred, but the state govt took a different view and declined to shift them. As expected, the EC rejected govt's plea and set a deadline to move these officials out, following which they have now been shifted.
A senior bureaucrat felt that in view of the previous experience, the state govt should have shifted all eligible officers even before the election process to prevent any scope for confrontation.
Home department needs to get its house in order
The home department led by deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was at the receiving end during the hearing of the Badlapur sexual assault case before Bombay HC. The court took Badlapur police to task for its inept handling of the case. It was specifically upset over their failure to detain the school trustees, who failed to report the sexual assault.
It was expected that in the wake of stringent criticism of law enforcement agencies, Fadnavis would revamp Badlapur police, but barring lower-rung officials' suspension, high-ranking IPS officials appear to be firm in the saddle. The handling of the case has raised questions about police's credibility. Doubts have been raised over the manner of the suspect's death in police custody. To end the debate on that, govt has set up a panel headed by former Allahabad HC chief justice Dilip Bhosale.
A former chief secretary felt that Fadnavis would step in to cleanse the police wing before the model code of conduct comes into force.
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