The Hindu : New Delhi News : Election Commission orders transfer of Haryana DGP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Election Commission orders transfer of Haryana DGP

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 6. The Election Commission today ordered the transfer of the Director-General of Police, Haryana, M.S. Malik, whose wife Krishna is contesting from the Sonepat Lok Sabha constituency as the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate.

Commission sources said the transfer had been made on the basis of complaints from political parties. Mr. Malik had been shifted to a non-election related post.

The Commission has sought a new panel of names to fill the post of DGP. It might be recalled that the BJP unit in Haryana had recently approached the Commission seeking the removal of Mr. Malik forthwith as the DGP till the election process was completed since his movement in the Sonepat constituency would amount to misusing his position to intimidate opponents and influence the police force.

UNI reports from Chandigarh:

The BJP and the Congress have welcomed the Election Commission's order to the Haryana Government to transfer Mr. Malik.

The Haryana BJP chief, Prof Ganeshi Lal, said the Commission's decision would ensure free and fair election in Sonepat where a large number of policemen from Haryana police and intelligence agencies were allegedly deployed to help the DGP's wife win the elections

The marching order to Mr Malik was given following a complaint by BJP leaders, including party's nominee in Sonipat Kishan Singh Sangwan.

``The Election Commission's order has once again proved that it is an impartial and fair body. The order would go a long way in defending the sanctity of the Constitution by ensuring smooth elections in Haryana,'' Prof Lal said.

The State Congress president, Bhajan Lal, also hailed the Commission's decision, saying Mr Malik's continuance in the office would have influenced the electorate in Sonepat.

The Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said the EC's order would ensure free and fair elections in the constituency which would not have been possible with Mr Malik being the police chief.

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