The Election Commission of India (ECI)’s decision to remove district magistrates of Birbhum, East Medinipur, East Burdwan and Jhargram districts in the state has created serious resentment among the West Bengal Civil Service (executive) officers, the backbone of administrative functions in the state.

Aggrieved by the ECI move, the officers under the banner of the WBCS (executive) Officers’ Association reacted strongly against the poll panel today.

Expressing their grievances the association has written a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Aariz Aftab, under the ECI, saying, “…WBCS (exe) officers are engaged in the majority of the election works which they have implemented with impartiality, diligence and competence for decades now.

The expression used in the impugned letter is most unfortunate. And most unwelcome, seriously hurting the sentiments and morale of the officers of the cadre.”

“The reason being put forward for today’s removal (that they are non-cadre officers to hold the post of DM) appears unjustified as State Govt has already given WBCS (exe) officers DM posts which have been duly notified in the existing cadre schedule of WBCS (Exe). Since long, WBCS (Exe) officers have been regularly posted as DMs and have successfully ‘performed at leadership positions’ as district election officers in many elections in the past including the last 2019 Parliamentary and 2021 Assembly elections. Moreover, there is no obligation in The RP Act which says that only IAS officers can become DEOs,” the letter states.

“It has also been recorded in the order for removal that such removal would be in the interest of creating ‘level playing field. We feel, the removal of only WBCS (exe) officers from their respective posts is utterly discriminatory which put us with utter surprise, confusion and dismay,” the officers stated in their letter.

“…from preparation of electoral roll to conducting polling process and finally to the counting of results, our officers of varying seniority play the main part of returning officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant returning Officer…,, “ it says, claiming that 15 out 42 returning officers belong to WBCS (exe) cadre.

There are 269 WBCS (exe) officers in the pool of 294 assistant ROs in the state.

The association secretary Shantanu Mukherjee was not available for comment.