Election Commission Halts J&K Army Officer Appointment Amidst Polls

The Election Commission has suspended an order by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to appoint an Army colonel as SSP, citing the Model Code of Conduct due to ongoing assembly elections. The J&K chief secretary is required to submit a compliance report by October 1, explaining the rationale behind the move.

The Election Commission has put on hold the Jammu and Kashmir administration's decision to appoint an Army colonel as SSP (Training and Special Operations), citing the Model Code of Conduct.

In a directive to the J&K chief secretary, the EC highlighted the ban on transferring officers linked to elections while the MCC is active. The commission declined to delve into the reasons behind the decision and instructed that the appointment be halted immediately. If already enforced, prior status must be reinstated immediately.

The chief secretary has been ordered to provide a compliance report by 11:00 am on October 1 and explain why the order was issued without EC clearance. The officer in question, Colonel Vikrant Prasher, is from the Indian Army's Para unit at the High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg. The final phase of J&K's assembly elections is on October 1, with votes counted on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)