EC Removes Vivek Sahay As West Bengal DGP Less Than 24 Hours After Appointment: All About It

In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission (EC) has reversed its decision to appoint Vivek Sahay as the Director General of Police (DGP) for West Bengal, less than a day after the announcement.

Sahay, a senior IPS officer, was set to become the state's top cop but has now been replaced by Sanjoy Mukherjee, a year his junior in the IPS cadre.

As reported, the sudden change came about due to Sahay's scheduled superannuation on 31 May, which clashed with the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections on 4 June.

Consequently, the EC directed the state government to appoint Mukherjee, who belongs to the 1989 IPS batch, as the new DGP.

Initially, Sahay was offered the position based on his seniority and experience.

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However, the prospect of having to replace him mid-election process prompted the EC to opt for Mukherjee instead.

Notably, Sahay's appointment notification was issued by the state home department, while Mukherjee's appointment was directly made by the EC, raising questions about the abrupt change in decision-making.

While the retirement clause was cited as the primary reason for Sahay's removal, critics argue that the EC could have extended his tenure considering the crucial role of the DGP during the elections.

"I am not convinced that the retirement clause is the only grounds for removing Sahay," said a former officer, requesting anonymity.

"Sahay could have been easily retained as the DGP of the state till the elections got over. I believe we never had a DGP for such a small duration ever before in this country," he added.

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