Shunted, Telangana official questions EC call

HYDERABAD: IAS officer TK Sreedevi tweeted her dissatisfaction after being sidelined by the EC alongside 20 other senior officers in a sudden move in Telangana on Wednesday, shortly after assembly polls were announced.
According to the commission's orders, officers found not fulfilling their duties were instructed to step down and hand over charge to their juniors immediately.The chief secretary was also directed not to assign any new posts to these officers until on December 5. The Telangana polls are scheduled for November 3 and results will be declared on December 3.
"How can an officer who has taken charge three working days before the visit of CEC to the state be held responsible for the department's performance? Just asking," Sreedevi tweeted.
Sreedevi, who is a secretary in the finance department, was asked to take over the commercial tax department on September 25, which she did a few days later. She previously served as the director of the municipal administration and urban development department.
Sreedevi's situation raises questions about the timing and rationale behind the transfers, given her limited tenure in her new role. Another officer from the department said: "She was not even given full charge of the department by the time the commission's orders were issued. How can they pinpoint any laxity on her part?"
Notably, the transfer of Hyderabad commissioner of police CV Anand has raised questions within the police fraternity. Former special chief secretary BP Acharya said politicians often make allegations against officers, which intensify during elections as a tool to exert control.
Without mentioning Sreedevi by name, Acharya pointed out that departments like commercial taxes have limited direct connections with the election process.
EC justified Anand's transfer, citing laxity in election duty and "insufficient" efforts to ensure a free and fair electoral process. It's worth noting that Anand headed the special investigation team that probed the November 2022 "Poachgate" scandal, involving four BRS MLAs who were allegedly lured by people reportedly associated with BJP to defect to the saffron party. The Telangana HC later nullified the probe. EC's actions extended beyond Anand, with Warangal police commissioner AV Ranganath also being transferred.