Week after SIR process, Odisha’s chief electoral officer opts for voluntary retirement

In Odisha, the chief electoral officer R S Gopalan has submitted his application for voluntary retirement, following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the state. Gopalan, a 2001-batch IAS officer, disclosed that he had opted for VRS due to personal reasons unrelated to the SIR exercise. Originally hailing from Tamil Nadu, he had applied for voluntary retirement around two years before his superannuation.

Gopalan, who has been in service for 25 years, stated that his decision is purely personal and was not influenced by the SIR. "It has nothing to do with the SIR. In Odisha, we have successfully completed the SIR exercise and I discharged my duty impartially. There was absolutely no pressure from anyone," he said.

The decision of Gopalan, who was serving as the Chief Electoral Officer and principal secretary of Odisha’s excise department, has raised questions. Arun Sahoo, a senior Biju Janata Dal leader, commented that the CEO's decision comes at a time when the Chief Election Commissioner is facing public outrage over the exclusion of several names from the electoral roll. Sahoo suggested that Gopalan may have applied for VRS due to pressure from the state government. Gopalan was originally scheduled to retire in September 2028.

Sources indicate that Gopalan had planned to apply for VRS in September but delayed it until the SIR process was completed. The final electoral roll in Odisha was published on September 21, after which the number of voters dropped from 3.33 crore to 3.16 crore. Opposition parties alleged that genuine voters were excluded from the final roll.

Following the approval of Gopalan's VRS application by the state government, it will be forwarded to the government of India for clearance. Once cleared, Gopalan will be relieved from duty.