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U.P. cancels transfer of IPS officers

Special Correspondent

Decision follows strong objection by Election Commissioner

LUCKNOW: As allegations of the model code of conduct for the forthcoming local bodies elections being violated by the Uttar Pradesh Government gathered momentum, the Government late on Saturday cancelled the transfer of about a dozen IPS officers. The police officers had been transferred on Friday.

The State Government's retraction followed the strong objection raised by the State Election Commissioner, Aparamita Prasad Singh, who summoned the senior government officials and the Director-General of Police, Bua Singh. Mr Singh told the officials that the transfers in the midst of electioneering for the polls were tantamount to the violation of the model code. He threatened to cancel the transfers if the government did not comply with his directives. The government's action was conveyed to the State Election Commission (Panchayat and Local Bodies) in writing by the DGP.

On Friday, the State Election Commission had banned the publication of government advertisements pertaining to the distribution of Kanya Vidya Dhan and unemployment allowance cheques by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Joint Election Commissioner, P.C. Gupta, told reporters that in a letter sent to the Director, Information and Public Relations Department and Secretary, Information, the Commission had directed the officials to ensure that such advertisements are not published in newspapers.

The SEC's move follows complaints by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party that the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government was allegedly violating the model code of conduct for the forthcoming local bodies polls in the Sstate, but the Commission had turned a blind eye to it.

However, the ban on government advertisements at this juncture were of little significance as only the Kanya Vidya Dhan and unemployment dole cheques of Allahabad Division remained to be distributed by the Chief Minister. The function at Allahabad was scheduled on October 27 but the State Election Commissioner on Tuesday stayed the distribution of cheques at Allahabad till November.

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U.P. cancels transfer of IPS officers

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