SSP Srinagar relieved, DC’s tenure extended
*Permission for parties, candidates simplified
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: In an administrative tone-up ahead of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission has directed the transfer of Senior Superintendents of Police of Baramulla and Kupwara and the SP of Handwara and has asked the administration to send a panel of IPS officers to be posted there, sources said today.
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The poll authority has also approved relieving of SSP Srinagar Ashish Mishra, an IPS officer who was transferred from Jammu and Kashmir to Delhi Police in June 2023 but could not be relieved due to administrative reasons.
The Commission has directed the Union Territory administration to provide a panel of IPS officers for the post of SP/SSP Srinagar, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara by tomorrow evening.
The EC has also cleared the appointment of IPS officer Nalin Prabhat as DG (Operations and Security) of J-K Police till September 30. He is currently on inter-cadre deputation and posted as Special DG, J-K till September 30.
It also gave its nod to the extension of inter-cadre deputation tenure of IAS officer Syeed Fakhruddin Hamid, the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag, for a period of two years. He had completed his tenure on July 8 this year.
The sources said Baramulla SSP Gurinderpal Singh, Handwara SP Dawood Ayoub, and Kupwara SSP Shobhit Saxena have been transferred out.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of facilitating smooth and transparent elections, the Office of Chief Electoral Officer J&K has issued a detailed communication to all concerned stakeholders on the flow of various permissions that would be required during the course of ongoing elections to Legislative Assembly.
The permissions placed at the level of CEO Office include vehicle permission for transport of campaigning material by political parties across UT, vehicle permission for star campaigners and party office bearers across districts/ UT and permissions for video vans across districts at UT level.
Similarly the permissions placed at the level of District Election Officer include application for air balloons, construction of rostrums/ barricades, permit to take out procession with loud speaker, application for setting up of temporary party office, application for rally, application for door to door canvassing, application for permission of video van (within district), vehicle permission for district Level office bearer of political party (within district), permission for helicopter and helipads and application for load carrier for transport of publicity material by political parties (within district).
The majority of permissions have been placed at the disposal of Returning Officers. These include permit for street corner meeting with loud speaker, permission to hold meeting without loudspeaker, one vehicle for complete AC for the candidate, one vehicle for a complete AC area for the election agent of the candidate, one vehicle per AC for the party/ party worker, vehicle permission for within AC, application for pamphlet distribution, application for vehicle with loudspeaker, application for display banners and flags, application for display poster, hoarding and unipole, application for loudspeaker permit, application for vehicle permit and permit to hold meeting with loud speaker. It is pertinent to mention here that all the permissions have been digitized and the political parties/ candidates can apply for them directly through SUVIDHA.
The Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, encourages the candidates and political parties participating in the 2024 Assembly elections to utilize these services. For further information, candidates and political parties are requested to visit the portal at https://suvidha.eci.gov.in