Ramanujam’s transfer to some other post will be in contravention to SC orders, says EC

Chennai:

Election Commission has submitted before the High Court that transferring Director General of Police (DGP) K Ramanujam to some other post would be in contravention to Supreme Court orders.

Quoting Supreme Court order in Prakash Singh and others versus Union of India passed on September 2006, senior counsel for Election Commission G Rajagaopalan submitted that the appointment of new DGP could be challenged on the ground that the appointment has to be made only through a panel.

Rajagopalan also submitted that Election Commission is satisfied with the orders passed by Chief Secretary appointing Anoop Jaiswal as DGP Elections.

Earlier, Advocate General A L Somaiyaji submitted before the first bench comprising acting Chief Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice M M Sundresh that that the DGP Elections Anoop Jaiswal will handle all the law and order matters relating to Elections.

Rajagaopalan submitted that the Commission has issued a circular in the month of January to transfer all officials who are serving in the same district for more than three years.

He further submitted that all the police officials including DGP would be ordered to be on deputation to the EC for poll duty.

After hearing the submissions, the Bench reserved it orders on the petition filed by TKS Elangovan of DMK restraining  DGP K Ramanujam from holding the post of state administrative head till the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections.