Amid the poll process, Hassan district got its third deputy commissioner (who is the district election officer) in less than 10 days after State government, under directions from the Election Commission, posted senior IAS officer and Commissioner of Public Instruction P.C. Jaffer to replace D. Randeep.
“He [Mr. Randeep] took charge of Hassan district and we were not informed. He took charge based on the court order. Ideally, the court order should have been interpreted by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) and DPAR should have taken the Election Commission’s concurrence because code of conduct is in place. He went and took charge, which is not the proper way,” Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar told presspersons here on Tuesday.
He said: “We have to conduct elections and we are so near. There can be no uncertainty. His personal conduct was not very...”
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Incidentally, Mr. Randeep had taken charge as Hassan DC on April 17.
Though he had been transferred to the post in March, he, however, could not take charge as the then DC, Rohini Sindhuri Dasari, got a stay from Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), citing political pressure. When CAT asked her to submit her plea to the Chief Secretary, she moved the High Court, which directed the CAT to hear her plea again. The CAT, on April 17, upheld the State government’s order and asked Mr. Randeep to take charge.
Meanwhile, Ms. Dasari’s petition in High Court is scheduled to come up on Wednesday.
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Cancelled visits
On Tuesday, Mr. Randeep had scheduled a visit to the check-posts set up to keep tabs on any violation of model code of conduct and hold a media briefing.
However, when he got the information about his transfer he cancelled his official visits and the media briefing. When The Hindu contacted him, Mr. Randeep said, “Yes, I have received the transfer order.” When asked if he would be challenging it, the officer said, “I have the highest respect for the State government and the Election Commission. I will abide by the direction.”
ZP CEOs transferred
Hassan Zilla Panchayat CEO K.M. Janaki has been transferred and G. Jagadeesha has been posted in her place. Ms. Janaki, who was earlier Additional Deputy Commissioner of Hassan, was posted as CEO of ZP on August 7, 2017. The government has not shown her a place.
Similarly, K.S. Lathakumari, who was Secretary, Karnataka State Election Commission, has been transferred as CEO of Kolar Zilla Panchayat, while M.P. Mullai Muhilan, who was Shivamogga City Corporation Commissioner has been posted as CEO Ramanagaram Zilla Panchayat.