After receiving directives from the Election Commission’s poll panel, the Gujarat government appointed K R Kaushik as the new Director-General of Police (DGP) of state on Thursday. Earlier, the Election Commission had ordered the transfer of DGP P.C. Pandey along with five other senior police officers, including Ahmedabad Police Commissioner J. Mahapatra, and two Collectors.

These officers had reportedly held important positions in the police and administrative department during the post-Godhra communal riots in 2002. The EC had also said that none of them will be assigned any work in election process.

Earlier, the Narendra Modi government had demanded an explanation from the Election Commission (EC) on its order to the transfers of DGP P C Pande, Ahmedabad police commissioner J Mahapatra, two District collectors and four Superintendents of Police.

The state government had claimed that the EC has no right to order the transfers because the transfers do not fall within the Election Commission’s guidelines. The government has also said that the there was no any vigilance enquiry against the officers who were transferred after the order issued by EC poll panel.

Later, the EC panel sent a letter to Gujarat government along with a list of proposed replacements by quoting Article 324 of the Constitution of India. According to the article 324 of the constitution, this is obligatory for the Governor of Gujarat to make available to EC all the staff needed for any poll-related function.

The EC’s letter also stated that the state government is in the same way obliged according to the Constitution to make sure the elections conducted in a free and fair manner by providing necessary assistance asked by the EC.

On Wednesday, the Gujarat government sent the list of officers for each of the posts to EC after receiving second letter from the EC poll panel on the transfer of police officers and collectors. After reviewing the list, the EC chose KR Kaushik’s name suitable for the DGP post in state. According to the EC directives, the state government is likely to send the appointment letters to other posts on Friday.

KR Kaushik is a 1972 batch Indian Police Service officer. He was among the three officers of the DGP rank in the State including PC Pandey and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner J. Mahapatra.

During the communal riots in May 2002, Kaushik had succeeded PC Pandey as the Ahmedabad Commissioner on the recommendation of KPS Gill. Gill had come to Gujarat for a short peroid as security advisor to CM Naredra Modi to control the riots. Earlier this year, the state government had shifted him to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

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