Darjeeling DM transferred days after protocol ‘lapse’ row during President Murmu’s visit

Days after the controversy over “protocol lapses” during President Murmu’s visit to the State, the West Bengal government on Friday (March 13, 2026) transferred Darjeeling District Magistrate Manish Mishra, posting him as special secretary in the State home department.

The move came amidst concerns among the State’s administrative circles that that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) may seek the services of Mr. Mishra and Siliguri Police Commissioner C. Sudhakar on central deputation.

Senior WBCS officer Sunil Agarwal, currently special secretary in the North Bengal Development Department, has been given additional charge as Darjeeling District Magistrate.

The development emanates from the row over President Droupadi Murmu’s recent visit to Darjeeling district where she had expressed anguish over breach of protocol and change of venue of International Santhal Conference. The President had said on March 7 that neither Chief Minister nor the Governor were present to receive her.

The administrative reshuffle came hours after reports surfaced that the MHA was considering seeking the services of the two officers in connection with the controversy surrounding the President’s visit to North Bengal last week.

President Droupadi Murmu’s tour of West Bengal on March 7 became a political flashpoint between the Union government and the West Bengal government.

In 2019, the Union Home Ministry had sought central deputation of three senior IPS officers after the convoy of the then BJP President J.P. Nadda was attacked in South 24 Parganas. The State government had withheld its consent to the central deputation.

However, according to sources in the MHA the consent of the State government or the concerned officer is not required if the Union government presses for central deputation for the officer.