After ECI Transfer Order, Odisha Govt Appoints New Collector For Dhenkanal

Bhubaneswar: Following a Election Commission of India (ECI) directive, the Odisha government appointed IAS officer Amrit Ruturaj as Collector and District Magistrate of Dhenkanal on Friday.

The 2015-batch IAS officer was serving as the Labour Commissioner.

The appointment came a day after ECI ordered for transfer of three government officials of Odisha, including Dhenkanal Collector and District Magistrate Manoranjan Mallick, for a level playing field during the upcoming twin polls.

The SPs of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural districts were also on the transfer list.

“Under the directive, all respective state govts have been instructed to promptly transfer non-encadred officers from their current roles as DM and SPs, with immediate effect, and submit a compliance report to the Commission,” read the ECI order.

On March 9, a BJP delegation had submitted a memorandum to chief electoral officer (CEO), Odisha, regarding delay in transfer of government officers before the general election. They alleged that some police officers were continuing at their place of posting even after five years.