EC stalls appointment of Army Officer as SSP by J&K administration . Explaination sought from Chief Secretary on appointment made without Commission’s approval when MCC is In force
The Election Commission of India has put in abeyance the order issued by J&K administration wherein Colonel Vikrant Prasher of the Indian Army’s Para, High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg, was appointed as SSP (Training) and Special (Operations) in J&K Police, even when there is a ban on transfer of officers connected to elections as MCC in in force.
The Commission in its order to Chief Secretary noted that “The Commission has observed that the Model Code of Conduct is in force in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and as such there is a ban on transfer of officers connected to election is in force. Without going into the rationale at this stage, process and urgency of posting of an Army officer as SSP in the civil side during the period of operation of MCC, the Commission hereby directs that order shall be kept in abeyance with immediate effect. If the order has already been implemented, the status quo prior to the issuance of the order must be restored immediately.”
The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir has been instructed to submit a compliance report by 11:00 am on 01.10.2024, along with a detailed explanation regarding the rationale for issuing the order without obtaining the required clearance from the Election Commission.
