HC stays transfer of Patan Janpad CEO engaged in SIR

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh high court stayed the transfer of the Patan Janpad Panchayat chief executive officer in Durg , noting that he is currently engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Justice Parth Prateem Sahu issued the interim order on Friday during a hearing on a writ petition filed by the CEO, Jagendra Kumar. The petitioner challenged the state govt's order dated Dec 16, 2025, which directed his transfer to Rajnandgaon as in-charge assistant project officer.Counsel for the petitioner, Mateen Siddiqui, argued that the transfer was legally flawed. He submitted that the petitioner is currently deputed as an assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) for the SIR work. Under Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, govt employees deployed for such duties cannot be transferred without prior permission from the commission.The petitioner's counsel further contended that the post of in-charge assistant project officer at the Zila Panchayat in Rajnandgaon is a position meant to be filled by officers on deputation. He argued that since no formal order for such a deputation was issued, the transfer order remained "bad in law". During the hearing, counsel for the Election Commission, Rakesh Kumar Jha, informed the court that the ECI already issued a letter to the state govt proposing the cancellation of the transfer order.Taking note of these submissions, Justice Sahu stayed the operation of the transfer order specifically regarding the petitioner. The court granted the state govt and other respondents 3 weeks to file their replies. The court issued notices to the respondents, including the secretary of the panchayat and rural development department and the CEO of Zila Panchayat Durg.