The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s appointment of an Indian army officer as a senior superintendent of police was suspended by the Election Commission on Monday, one day before the union territory’s third phase polls.
In an order to the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary, the election panel mentioned Colonel Vikrant Prasher’s appointment as the SSP of training and special operations in the J&K police.
Citing a model code of conduct in effect owing to assembly elections, the electoral commission stated that officers involved in the poll process cannot be reassigned.
“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,” the election commission stated.
“If the order has already been implemented, the status quo before the issuance of the order must be restored immediately,” the order read.
Colonel Vikrant Prasher, who is now stationed at the Para High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, has been named SSP for training and special operations in the J&K police for a two-year term. The appointment order was issued by Chandraker Bharti, the senior secretary of the J&K Home Department.
Jammu and Kashmir Election: Third Phase
The third phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir is set for October 1. In this round, nearly 39.18 lakh eligible voters would vote at 5,060 polling places. It would encompass 40 assembly constituencies, including Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua in the Jammu area, as well as Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara in north Kashmir.
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Source: Jagran English
