Centre Orders Central Deputation for Bengal Officials Over President Murmu Protocol Breach
The Central government has issued a directive to the West Bengal administration, demanding that two senior officials be sent on central deputation to Delhi by Monday. This action follows an alleged breach in protocol during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Siliguri earlier this month.
Immediate Transfers and State Response
In a swift move, the Bengal government has transferred Darjeeling District Magistrate Manish Mishra to the position of special secretary in the home department. He has been replaced by Sunil Agarwala, who previously served as the special secretary of the North Bengal Development Department. However, as of the latest reports, no similar action has been taken regarding Siliguri Police Commissioner C Sudhakar.
The Centre's formal letter arrived concurrently with the state's submission of a detailed explanation to the Union Home Ministry. The Bengal government clarified that the President's itinerary, including the list of officials designated to receive her, had been approved by both the Central authorities and the President's office.
Details of the Protocol Incident
President Murmu visited Siliguri on March 7 to participate in the 9th convention of the International Adivasi and Santal Council. The event was originally scheduled to take place at the Santoshini School ground in Bidhannagar, Phansidewa block, a tribal-dominated area near Siliguri. Due to security concerns, the venue was later relocated to Gossainpur, Bagdogra.
Following the program, President Murmu expressed her displeasure publicly over the change of location. She traveled to Bidhannagar and reiterated her strong dissatisfaction regarding the venue shift, highlighting the protocol issues that arose during her visit.
Political Reactions and Historical Context
Siliguri MLA and assembly chief whip Shankar Ghosh strongly condemned the incident, stating, "An insult to the President is an insult to the nation. The home ministry needed to investigate this issue, and it did so." Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb, who was among the officials receiving President Murmu, refrained from commenting, noting that the state leadership would address the matter appropriately.
This is not the first instance of tension between the Centre and the Bengal government over protocol and security matters. In December 2020, ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, a security breach occurred during then BJP national president JP Nadda's convoy, which was pelted with stones while heading towards Diamond Harbour. In response, three IPS officers were marked for central deputation, though the state resisted the move at that time.
Background of the Officials Involved
Manish Mishra, a 2015-batch IAS officer, assumed the role of Darjeeling District Magistrate on October 27, 2025, succeeding Preeti Goyal, who was transferred to Malda. Prior to his appointment in Darjeeling, Mishra served as the additional district magistrate of North 24 Parganas, bringing experience in administrative roles within the region.
The Union Home Ministry had requested a detailed report from the state government within 24 hours regarding the protocol breach. Although the report was submitted, the Centre reportedly found it unsatisfactory, leading to the current directive for central deputation. This ongoing standoff underscores the persistent friction between state and central authorities in matters of governance and protocol enforcement.
