Shimla DC transferred on ECI directions

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 18 

The government on Monday ordered the transfer of Shimla Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap following the controversy of opening of the EVM strongroom by SDM, Chopal, Mukesh Repaswal.

It was on the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the transfer was ordered.

Kashyap has been posted as the Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Town and Country Planning. Director, Town and Country Planning, Rajeshwar Goel replaces Kashyap as the Shimla DC, an important post. It was on March 13 that the government had ordered the transfer of Repaswal, IAS (2015), on the directions of the ECI. 

The Congress, too, had complained to the ECI to take action against the SDM, who they said had only been transferred without taking any strict action against him.  The transfer orders of the SDM were issued as he had ordered the opening of the EVM strongroom without seeking prior permission of the ECI. Repaswal has been posted as Special Secretary, Education. The Tehsildar, Chopal, has been given the additional charge of the SDM, in addition to his earlier responsibility. No transfers can be ordered by the government without the permission from the ECI once the Model Code of Conduct comes into force. The government took action against Repaswal on the directions from ECI and sought a reply from the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, who happened to be the District Returning Officer (DRO). 

It is learnt that the SDM had got the EVM strongroom opened on the pretext that he had to run the court from there. A reply had been sought from the DC, Shimla, by the earlier Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpinder Rajput.