The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the West Bengal government to immediately cancel the transfer of three IAS officers serving as Electoral Roll Observers, saying the move violated its clear instructions during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In a letter to the state’s Chief Secretary, the Commission said the officers were transferred without its prior approval, even though explicit directions were in place that no official connected with the SIR exercise should be moved during the revision period.

“It has come to the Commission’s notice that the Government of West Bengal has ordered departmental transfers/postings of Electoral Roll Observers without prior concurrence of the Commission, which is violative of the Commission’s instructions,” the ECI said in its communication.

The Commission has asked the state government to cancel the transfer orders “forthwith” and warned that any such moves in the future must receive prior approval from the ECI.

According to the letter, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal was announced by the Commission on October 27, 2025. Paragraph 4 of that communication made it mandatory for chief secretaries to ensure that officials involved in the SIR process are not transferred without the Commission’s consent.

In a follow-up letter issued in late November 2025, the ECI appointed 12 Electoral Roll Observers along with five Divisional Commissioners for the exercise. These officers were placed on “deemed deputation” to the Election Commission for the duration of the revision.

Despite these directions, the West Bengal government issued transfer and posting orders on December 1, 2025, January 20, 2026 and January 21, 2026, affecting three IAS officers:

Ashwini Kumar Yadav (IAS, WB:2001), Electoral Roll Observer for Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur

Randhir Kumar (IAS, WB:2006), Electoral Roll Observer for North 24 Parganas and Kolkata North

Smita Pandey (IAS, WB:2005), Electoral Roll Observer for Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum

The Commission noted that all three officers were transferred without its approval, even though they were engaged in critical election-related duties.

“In view of the above, I am directed to state that the transfer orders be cancelled forthwith,” the letter said, adding that the state must seek prior concurrence from the Commission for any similar decisions in the future.

The ECI has asked the West Bengal government to submit a compliance report by 3 pm on January 28, 2026. The letter was signed by Sujeet Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Election Commission of India, underlining the Commission’s firm stance on ensuring continuity and integrity in the electoral roll revision process.