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Nepotism Row Over Election Commission Chief's Daughter's Appointment As Noida DM

Several X users pointed out it is nearly impossible for husband and wife to serve in the same cadre or same state in normal circumstances.

Medha Roopam - Noida DM Edited by
Nepotism Row Over Election Commission Chief's Daughter's Appointment As Noida DM

Perks Of Killing Democracy: Criticism Over Election Commission Chief's Daughter's Posting As Noida DM

New Delhi: The government recently appointed Medha Roopam, a 2014 batch IAS officer, and daughter of India’s chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, as the first woman District Magistrate (DM) of Gautam Buddh Nagar. The appointment came on the heels of the Uttar Pradesh government’s order to transfer 23 IAS officers, including DMs of Ghaziabad and Prayagraj, among others.

Medha Roopam was appointed to replace Manish Kumar Verma, who had been transferred to Prayagraj in the same role. Roopam’s first posting as DM was at Hapur. Within a year, she was promoted to the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of Greater Noida, and in 2023, she was again transferred to Kasganj as DM.

Read Also: Election Commission is Complicit in Voter List Manipulation: Congress’ EAGLE

With the latest posting, Roopam has become the first woman DM of the district. However, the posting has drawn public attention amid opposition parties’ ‘vote chori’ allegations against the ruling BJP and the election commission for favouring the saffron party. Rahul Gandhi, while exposing the Election Commission with proof of irregularities in names, addresses, IDs and the votes polled and counted, also pointed fingers at the chief election commissioner for voters’ list manipulation.

Though the chief election commissioner came out with a detailed press conference refuting the allegations, the opposition has demanded proper clarification into the allegations. The Opposition is also planning to move an impeachment motion against Gyanesh Kumar while asking him to respond to all their concerns.

Read Also: Vote Fraud Row: INDIA Bloc To Bring Impeachment Motion Against Chief Election Commissioner

However, the posting of the election commissioner’s daughter amid the allegations against the election commission officials including the chief, has ignited discussion on social media, with users calling the elevation of ECC’s daughter as a “perk of killing democracy.”

An X user and social commentator, Mohit Chauhan, claimed that in administrative services it’s almost impossible for a husband and wife to serve in the same state, adding that yet it happened twice with Gyanesh Kumar’s family. His daughter got posted as Noida DM, the most sought-after post in UP, just days ago. “The perks of killing Indian Democracy for BJP,” the user wrote on his social media platform.

 

Users on X also pointed out that the chief election commissioner’s other family members are also serving in several most powerful administrative posts in the country. Apart from Roopam, her husband is serving as District Magistrate of Saharanpur, and Gyanesh Kumar’s second daughter is posted as Deputy Director in the IRS at Srinagar, and her husband is the District Magistrate of Srinagar, J&K, another user, Normal Guy, pointed out. He also underlined that husband and wife are not allowed to serve in the same cadre or same state in normal circumstances.

“It is considered nearly impossible in the IAS system. Yet this exception has happened twice within the same family. On top of this, Gyanesh Kumar was seen wearing luxury Maybach glasses worth ₹2.33 lakh, an amount unaffordable for 99% of Indians. This combination of privileged postings and visible luxury raises clear questions. The Election Commissioner’s family has secured prime, powerful posts in record time, bending rules of service that ordinary officers cannot. And this is happening under a government that claims to clean the system,” the user wrote.

 

However, amid the row surrounding the appointment, several users defended the posting of Roopam stating take she is a qualified IAS officer from 2014 batch and her appointment as the DM of Noida wasn’t under the influence of her father. A user, Chandler, urged the election commission to take legal action against “propagandists” and stop ignoring defamations. 

 

Topics
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's daughter's appointment Gyanesh Kumar's family Gyanesh Kumar's family nepotism Gyanesh Kumar's posting Medha Roopam - Noida DM Medha Roopam as Noida DM Medha Roopam new Noida DM

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