AP govt locks horns with EC over officials’ transfer

Vijayawada: After barring the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI) from entering AP, N. Chandrababu Naidu’s government appears to have decided to take on another autonomous institution, the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The state government overnight changed its stance on the transfer of intelligence chief A.B. Venkateswar Rao. However, there was no proper explanation in the overnment Order (GO) that revoked Venkateswar Rao’s transfer.

The state government had rejected the orders of the ECI and issued a GO revoking the transfer orders of Venkateshwara Rao. Amidst high drama, the government on Wednesday issued two GOs one bringing all police officials from top to bottom level into the purview of the Election Commission, and another revoking the transfer orders of Venkateswar Rao.

Mr  Naidu wrote a seven-page strongly worded letter to the Election Commission of India protesting the manner in which three IPS officers were transferred.

Mr Naidu said he is shocked to see the communication from the EC on the transfers without even conducting preliminary inquiry into the complaint lodged by the YSR Congress party.

He also said that the Director General, Intelligence, does not come under the purview of the EC and he can’t be transferred.  He urged the EC to cancel the transfer orders. “Unfortunately, the conduct of the EC has now become highly questionable and it is joining the list of Constitutional Bodies which are no longer independent,” said Mr Naidu in his letter.

Referring to cases pending against YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Mr Naidu said such persons who have committed heinous crimes are beingwelcomed by the EC.

“They are being treated as the most trustworthy persons to make false and baseless allegations against honest public servants. It conveys the message that the honest public servants have to bow before such persons who have no scruples. Thus the action of the EC is prima facie hasty, biased, undemocratic, and suffers from the principles of natural justice.”

The transfer orders would adversely affect the morale of the honest, judicious and upright police officials of Andhra Pradesh who have the reputation for their efficiency and professionalism,” Mr Naidu wrote in the letter.

He added that the EC’s conduct has become questionable due to this coloured decision which is deliberately aimed at benefitting the YSRC under the influence of Narendra Modi aided by K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

He also said that while the EC has shown extraordinary interest in responding to the complaint of the YSRC, it has blissfully ignored the representations of the Telugu Desam party against the malicious actions of the YSRC. The Telugu Desam party has complained to the ECI about the illegal and criminal intentions of YSRC which arranged for filing Form-7 applications online for deletion of 5.4 lakh voters who are TD supporters.

“Director General, Intelligence is not a designated officer under Section 28A of the Representation of Police Act, 1951, consequently the ECI does not have any authority/ jurisdiction to transfer the Director General, Intelligence in the purported exercise of the powers conferred on it under Article 324 of the Constitution of India read with Section 28A of the Representation of People Act, 1951,’ Mr Naidu wrote.