Bengaluru: Following directions from the Election Commission (EC), the State Government on Saturday transferred Hassan Deputy Commissioner (DC) Akram Pasha and  appointed Priyanka Mary Francis in his place.

Mary Francis, who was the Director of Tourism, took charge within hours of the transfer notification. Pasha has not been given any alternative posting.

Sources said that the transfer of Pasha followed a complaint against him by Hassan BJP MLA Preetham Gowda and Hassan Lok Sabha seat BJP candidate A. Manju.

The two had accused the DC of ignoring their complaints against JD(S) candidates from Hassan Prajwal Revanna, son of PWD Minister H.D. Revanna. Preetham and A. Manju had accused Prajwal of suppressing details of his assets in his affidavit and also that the relatives of JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and PWD Minister H.D. Revanna, may indulge in large-scale election malpractice.

Akram Pasha had taken charge as Hassan DC only a month ago.

Hassan has saga of transfers

The saga of transfer of Hassan DCs began in 2017 with Rohini Sindhuri Dasari. Even before she could complete six months in the district, she was transferred in January 2018. Sindhuri then waged a legal battle challenging her transfer, during which D. Randeep and P.C. Jaffer worked as Deputy Commissioners for brief periods.

Sindhuri returned to her post in June 2018, but she was transferred again on Feb. 22, 2019. Akram Pasha, who took charge as Hassan DC last month has now been transferred based on the EC’s directions and Priyanka Mary Francis has replaced him.

Mandya

Meanwhile in Mandya, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)  Sanjiv Kumar said that the allegations that Mandya DC N. Manjushree had taken a one-sided decision in clearing the nomination papers filed by Nikhil Kumaraswamy, would be inquired into.

Actress Sumalatha, wife of late actor-turned-politician Ambarish, who is contesting as an independent candidate and is supported by the BJP, had complained that Nikhil’s nomination papers were not in order. Her election agent had pointed out that JD(S) candidate Nikhil’s papers did not have Form No. 26 (affidavit) and that DC Manjushree cleared his papers on the grounds that the Representation of Peoples Act allowed candidates to file the remaining affidavits during scrutiny.

Sanjiv Kumar reacting to Sumalatha’s complaint said that the EC has noted the concerns being raised about one-sided action and an inquiry will be ordered into the issue.

CEO Sanjiv Kumar also pointed out that once the Returning Officer accepted the nomination after scrutiny, any legal remedy could be sought only in the Court. “But we will look at whether or not there were any administrative lapses,” he added.

Vijayapura DC transferred

Vijayapura DC Y.S. Patil too has been transferred reportedly on the EC’s direction.

The JD(S) is contesting the Vijayapura (SC) seat as per a seat sharing deal between the JD(S) and  Congress.

Y.S. Patil was earlier the personal Secretary to the then Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil, who is currently the Home Minister. He was also the Director of Horticulture Department earlier and M.C. Managuli of the JD(S),  who is the Horticulture Minister, is also the Vijayapura District in-charge Minister now.

About a week ago, the Opposition BJP in the State had petitioned the EC seeking the transfer of over a dozen officers across the State, whom the party claimed as ‘Biased’.