ECI halts appointments of Col as SSP in J&K Police

Srinagar, Sep 30: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has halted the appointment of Colonel Vikrant Prasher as Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Training in Jammu and Kashmir Police, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force due to the ongoing Legislative Assembly elections in J&K.

According to a directive issued by the ECI on September 27, and addressed to the Chief Secretary of J&K, the appointment of Colonel Prasher from the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Gulmarg, to the role of SSP (Training) and Special Operations within the J&K Police was flagged for procedural lapses.

The commission said that the MCC restricts the transfer or posting of officials involved in election-related duties and that these appointments should not have been made without prior approval.

The order further outlined that despite the specific reasoning behind the appointment, the move violated the established guidelines that prohibit significant changes in administrative posts during the election period.

As a result, the ECI directed immediate suspension of Colonel Prasher’s appointment and ordered a reversion to the status quo before the issuance of the order.

In its order, the ECI further instructed the Chief Secretary of J&K to submit a compliance report by 11 am on October 1, 2024.

The report is expected to explain why the appointment was processed without seeking the mandatory clearance from the commission.