Srinagar, July: Ahead of much-awaited Assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday directed Jammu & Kashmir administration to shift officials who are serving in their native districts or those who have completed three years in a particular district during the last four years.
In a letter written to Jammu & Kashmir’s chief secretary and chief electoral officer, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the poll-body has directed that no officer connected directly with elections shall be allowed to continue in the present district (revenue district) of posting if she/he is posted in her/his home district or if she/he has completed three years in that district during last four years or would be completing three years on or before September 30,2024.
The Commission has directed that transfer/posting of all officers covered under these instructions shall be done and compliance reports by Chief Secretary and DGP with details of action obtained from the concerned departments/offices of State Government shall be furnished to the Commission by August 20, 2024.
In the letter, the Commission has said that the election to Legislative Assembly of UT of Jammu and Kashmir is due in near future. On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court had directed the poll-body to conduct J&K assembly polls by September 30, 2024.
Since June 19, 2018, Jammu & Kashmir is under direct central rule after BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government, citing “deteriorating” law and order situation in the erstwhile state. The last assembly election in J&K was held in 2014.
