NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Monday stalled the appointment of an Army colonel as senior superintendent of police ( SSP ) in charge of training and special operations in J&K police , despite a restraint on transfer of poll-related officers during the model code of conduct (MCC) period.
Directing that the transfer of Vikrant Prasher of Indian Army's Para High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg, as SSP be kept in abeyance with immediate effect and if already implemented, the status quo ante be restored, EC sought an explanation from the J&K chief secretary on the rationale for issuing the order without securing its clearance, as required under MCC.
The chief secretary was asked to send a compliance report, along with the explanation, to the EC by 11 am on Tuesday.
Though this is perhaps the first time an Army officer has been posted as an SSP in J&K police, there has been a precedent of BSF officer Raja Aijaz Ali having headed the communications unit of J&K police. Also, there are precedents of Army officers having led Andhra Pradesh's special anti-Naxal force Greyhounds, besides being drafted into special, expertise-based roles in West Bengal and Odisha police.
"The expertise of military and paramilitary officers in roles like jungle warfare and mountain warfare is often used by the civilian police by taking in their senior officers and getting them to impart their skills to other police officers. Having an expert from the Army's Para High Altitude Warfare School as an SSP in charge of training J&K police in mountain warfare will help them deal with terrorists who have recently made bases in the mountain tops of Jammu region," a senior J&K police officer told TOI.
In its letter sent to the J&K chief secretary, the EC said, "The model code of conduct is in force in the UT of J&K and as such there is a ban on transfer of officers connected to election. 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. If the order has already been implemented, the status quo prior to the issuance of the order must be restored immediately."
Directing that the transfer of Vikrant Prasher of Indian Army's Para High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg, as SSP be kept in abeyance with immediate effect and if already implemented, the status quo ante be restored, EC sought an explanation from the J&K chief secretary on the rationale for issuing the order without securing its clearance, as required under MCC.
The chief secretary was asked to send a compliance report, along with the explanation, to the EC by 11 am on Tuesday.
Though this is perhaps the first time an Army officer has been posted as an SSP in J&K police, there has been a precedent of BSF officer Raja Aijaz Ali having headed the communications unit of J&K police. Also, there are precedents of Army officers having led Andhra Pradesh's special anti-Naxal force Greyhounds, besides being drafted into special, expertise-based roles in West Bengal and Odisha police.
"The expertise of military and paramilitary officers in roles like jungle warfare and mountain warfare is often used by the civilian police by taking in their senior officers and getting them to impart their skills to other police officers. Having an expert from the Army's Para High Altitude Warfare School as an SSP in charge of training J&K police in mountain warfare will help them deal with terrorists who have recently made bases in the mountain tops of Jammu region," a senior J&K police officer told TOI.
In its letter sent to the J&K chief secretary, the EC said, "The model code of conduct is in force in the UT of J&K and as such there is a ban on transfer of officers connected to election. 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. If the order has already been implemented, the status quo prior to the issuance of the order must be restored immediately."
You may also like
'I was...': US President Joe Biden gets defensive over reporter question on Hurricane Helene
'Borders are created by politicians': Diljit Dosanjh gifts Pakistani female fan pair of shoes; introduces his mother, sister for first time
SC orders status quo on Assam demolitions, issues notice
Dame Joan Collins says 'volatile' Conrad Hilton pulled a gun out in bed and shot ceiling
