Action taken against 40 Govt employees for MCC violations

Srinagar, May 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Election Department has taken action against 40 government employees for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in J&K.

"Four employees have been suspended, disciplinary action has been initiated against one besides one employee has been disengaged from services and inquiry has been started against 34 employees,” read a communiqué received here Sunday in this regard.

The swift action against these employees of different departments of J&K has been initiated in response to the daily online reports being furnished by the concerned District Election Officers of different districts and offline complaints received on the official email id of J&K Chief Electoral Officer, lodged by people, office bearers of different political parties, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) regarding MCC violation.

The move was aimed at ensuring free and fair conduct of ongoing general elections while adhering to the tolerance policy of the Election Commission of India (ECI) against such violations.

The two employees have been placed under suspension in Kupwara, one in Ganderbal and one in Doda district with initiation of enquiry against them.

Disciplinary action has been recommended against one employee whose involvement in political activities was proven while one chowkidar has been disengaged and dismissed from services for proven involvement in political activities.

The concerned authority has issued a warning to one employee to remain careful in future who has pleaded to have committed the mistake unknowingly.

In addition, inquiries are underway against 34 employees including six gazetted employees which will be taken to a logical conclusion as per the instructions of the ECI.

“The highest violations have been reported from Srinagar district followed by Kulgam and Rajouri as second highest and Udhampur and Ganderbal districts as third highest while lowest violations have been reported from Kishtwar, Bandipora, Reasi, and Samba districts,” the communiqué said.