Chandigarh: Retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Devinder Singh Kalyan was appointed as Haryana’s State Election Commissioner (SEC) on Thursday. The appointment was made by the Governor of Haryana following the recommendation of the state government. Kalyan, who retired from service on May 31, is notably the brother of BJP MLA from Gharaunda and Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan.
Background and Career Highlights of Devinder Singh Kalyan
Devinder Kalyan has had a distinguished career in the income tax stream of the Indian Revenue Service. In April 2023, he secured a posting with the Haryana government as Principal Secretary of Excise and Taxation — a post typically held by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. Prior to this, he served as an advisor in the State Finance Department from February 2023.
Earlier, the Haryana government had recommended Kalyan’s name for the position of Chairman of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana. However, his nomination was rejected by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on grounds of not meeting the eligibility criteria under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006.
Role of State Election Commissioner
The State Election Commission (SEC) holds constitutional responsibility under Articles 243K and 243ZA for overseeing the preparation of electoral rolls and conducting elections to panchayats and municipal bodies in Haryana. The position demands impartiality and fairness to ensure transparent electoral processes involving multiple political parties.
Conflict of Interest Concerns Spark Debate
The appointment of Devinder Kalyan, who is closely related to a senior ruling party politician, has drawn criticism from legal experts and opposition figures. Former Haryana Advocate General Mohan Jain described the appointment as a “clear conflict of interest” and detrimental to public trust.
The opposition and civil society groups have echoed similar sentiments, calling for greater scrutiny and transparency in appointments to key constitutional positions.
