J&K Polls: EC Stalls Appointment of Army Officer as SSP by UT Administration, Seeks Explanation from Chief Secretary

The Election Commission of India on Monday put in abeyance the order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir administration that appointed Colonel Vikrant Prasher of the Indian Army’s Para, High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg, as SSP (Training) and Special (Operations) in J&K Police, even when there is a ban on transfer of officers connected to elections as the model code of conduct is in force.

The union territory is witnessing elections and will have voting for the third phase on Tuesday. On September 27, a letter was issued regarding Prasher’s appointment. The model code of conduct (MCC) has been in place since mid-August in the union territory.

In the letter issued on Monday evening, the poll body sought an explanation from the chief secretary on the appointment made without the commission’s approval when the MCC was in force.

“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, at this stage, into the rationale, process and urgency of posting 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,” the order reads.

If the order has already been implemented, it added, that the position before its issuance should be restored immediately.

The poll body has also asked the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to submit a compliance report by 11 am on Tuesday along with a detailed explanation regarding the rationale for issuing the order without obtaining the required clearance from the Election Commission.

The union territory, which came into existence in 2019, is witnessing polls for the first time after 2014. The last time the then state had assembly polls was in 2014.

The elections are being held in three phases of which two have been peacefully completed on September 18 and 25. The third and last phase is on Tuesday before the counting of votes on October 8.