New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday wrote to the West Bengal government regarding the transfer of voter list observers, clearly stating that no officer involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process will be transferred without prior approval.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal, Election Commission Secretary SK Mishra wrote, ‘I am directed to inform that the Commission vide its letter dated October 27, 2025 has declared SIR in the State of West Bengal.
Paragraph 4 of the letter inter alia provides that during the SIR period, Chief Secretaries should ensure that no officer involved in the SIR process is transferred without prior approval from the Commission.’
The letter read, ‘In addition, I would also like to inform that the Commission, vide its letter dated November 28, 2025, has appointed 12 Electoral Roll Observers along with 5 Divisional Commissioners. These officers are on deemed deputation to the Election Commission for the purpose of SIR.
It has come to the notice of the Commission that the Government of West Bengal, vide notifications dated December 1, 2025, January 20 and January 21, respectively, has appointed Ashwini Kumar Yadav, IAS, WB: 2001 (Voter List Supervisor for North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur), Randhir Kumar, IAS, WB: 2006 (Voter List Supervisor for North 24 Parganas and Kolkata North) and Smita Pandey, IAS, WB: Departmental transfer/posting of 2005 (Voter List Supervisor for Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum) has been ordered.
However, the transfer of these officers has been ordered without the prior approval of the Election Commission, which is in violation of the Commission’s instructions dated October 27, 2025, as mentioned above. It further said, ‘In view of the above, I am directed to say that the transfer orders should be canceled immediately.
Also, you are requested to take prior approval from the commission before issuing such orders in future. A compliance in this regard can be sent to the commission by 3 pm on January 28. It is important to mention that with the aim of improving the voter list, SIR is currently running in West Bengal along with eight other states and three union territories.
