The Election Department of Jammu & Kashmir is taking stringent measures to ensure adherence to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the announcement of General Elections for the Legislative Assembly. Since the MCC was imposed on August 16, 2024, 175 violations have been reported across the Union Territory (UT), leading to several legal and disciplinary actions.
FIRs Filed and Suspensions Enforced
As part of its crackdown, the Election Department has registered 9 FIRs (First Information Reports) against serious offenders of the MCC. In addition to this, 5 government employees from Srinagar have been suspended for engaging in political activities, a direct breach of the MCC guidelines that prohibit government employees from participating in election-related matters. These employees are now under further investigation to determine the extent of their involvement in political activities during the election period.
Warnings and Inquiries
In 23 other cases, warnings have been issued to the violators, cautioning them to follow the MCC guidelines strictly in the future. Furthermore, investigations have been initiated in 48 cases of potential MCC violations, signaling that the authorities are leaving no stone unturned in maintaining the integrity of the election process.
Breakdown of Violations
Out of the 175 violations reported since mid-August, 96 complaints have been lodged against political parties and individual candidates. Government employees account for 53 of the violations, while 2 cases involve media personnel. An additional 24 violations have been attributed to other entities.
However, not all complaints were substantiated. Following a thorough investigation by the Flying Squads and Static Surveillance Teams (FSTS/SSTs), 89 cases were found to be baseless and were subsequently dropped. The remaining cases have either been addressed or are still under investigation.
Upholding Electoral Integrity
The Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. It comes into effect as soon as the election schedule is announced and remains in place until the election process is completed. The MCC restricts various activities such as political campaigning, use of government resources for election purposes, and political involvement of public servants.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu & Kashmir has reiterated the commitment to upholding these guidelines and ensuring that the electoral process remains impartial. The strict actions, including the filing of FIRs, suspensions, warnings, and ongoing inquiries, highlight the Election Department’s firm approach toward any attempt to undermine the integrity of the elections.
This strong response demonstrates that violations of the MCC will not be tolerated and that all parties—whether political candidates, government employees, media, or others—will be held accountable for their actions during the election period.
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