40 Govt Employees Face Action for MCC Violations in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir Election Department Takes Action Against 40 Government Employees for MCC Violations
The Jammu and Kashmir Election Department has taken decisive action against 40 government employees for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the Union Territory. The communique received today highlighted various measures, including the suspension and initiation of inquiries, to address these violations.
According to the communique, four employees have been suspended for their actions. Disciplinary action has been initiated against one employee, while another has been disengaged from services. Additionally, inquiries have been started against 34 employees to investigate the extent of their involvement in MCC violations.
This swift action stems from daily online reports provided by District Election Officers from various districts, as well as offline complaints received via the official email of the J&K Chief Electoral Officer. Complaints were lodged by the general public, office bearers of political parties, and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, underscoring the seriousness of the issue.
The measures aim to ensure the free and fair conduct of ongoing general elections in J&K. The Election Commission of India has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards MCC violations, which has guided the strict actions taken by the Election Department.
Among the suspended employees, two are from Kupwara, one from Ganderbal, and one from Doda district. Inquiries have been initiated against these individuals to ascertain the details and severity of their violations. This underscores the department’s commitment to maintaining electoral integrity across the region.
Disciplinary action has been recommended for one employee whose involvement in political activities was substantiated. Furthermore, a chowkidar has been dismissed from service after being proven to have engaged in political activities, highlighting the strict enforcement of the MCC.
In a more lenient measure, one employee who pleaded ignorance of the rules has been issued a warning to be more cautious in the future. Meanwhile, the inquiries against 34 employees, including six gazetted officers, are ongoing and will be concluded as per the Election Commission’s instructions.
The highest number of MCC violations were reported from Srinagar district, followed by Kulgam and Rajouri. Udhampur and Ganderbal districts reported the third highest number of violations, while the lowest were observed in Kishtwar, Bandipora, Reasi, and Samba districts. This distribution of violations indicates varying levels of adherence to the MCC across different regions in the Union Territory.
