ECI appoints senior IAS officer Neelam Meena as new CEO of West Bengal

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday appointed 1998-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre Neelam Meena as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state. The decision to appoint Meena has come following West Bengal government’s move to shift the former CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal, a1990-batch West Bengal cadre IAS officer, as the Chief Secretary of the state.

Soon after the change of guard in the state, the West Bengal government led by Shubhendu Adhikari roped in then CEO Agarwal, who presided over the conduct of assembly elections in the state, as the new Chief Secretary.

The West Bengal government had then forwarded names of three senior IAS officers of the state cadre to the ECI for its consideration to appoint one among them as the next CEO. The panel of three names included Neelam Meena, Tanmay Chakrabarty, a 2006-batch West Bengal-cadre IAS officer and Moumita Godara Basu, a 2007-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre.

In a communication to Chief Secretary Agarwal, the ECI said, “…a panel of 3 IAS officers for the appointment of the Chief Electoral Officers, West Bengal sent by the state government. It is to say that the Commission has approved the name of Neelam Meena for the appointment as the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal in place of Manoj Kumar Agarwal, IAS.”

In the order the ECI further said, “It may be ensured that Neelam Meena assumes charge of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal immediately. A compliance report may be sent within a week.”  

The ECO also notified that Meena “shall cease to hold and handover forthwith the charge of all or any charges of work under the Government of West Bengal, which may be held before such assumption of office”.

Further clarifying the position of Meena, the ECI said she, while functioning as the CEO, “shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the Government of West Bengal except that she should be designated Principal Secretary to the Government in charge of the Election Department in the state Secretariat”.

Meena, during her distinguished career, has served as District Magistrate of Hooghly, the CEO of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority and a senior officer in Youth Services and Environment Departments of the state government. She has also completed a five-year central deputation, during which she worked with the Tea Board and the Ministry of Rural Development. She is currently serving as Principal Secretary, Consumer Affairs Department.