Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 24: In a significant decision, the Election Commission of India (ECI) today kept in abeyance the postings of 16 vice chairpersons appointed by the PDP-BJP Government to various Corporations and Boards on the eve of by-election to Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies.
The Election Commission of India took the decision on the basis of a complaint submitted by the Opposition National Conference alleging that the appointments were made on the day the Commission issued notification for by-election to the twin Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir.
An official order issued by the Election Commission of India to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Shantmanu said that all the appointments made to the posts of vice chairpersons will be kept in abeyance till the process for Lok Sabha by-polls is completed in the State.
“The Election Commission directive, however, said that if any appointment was made on or after March 9, the day notification for the elections was issued, it should be rescinded,” official sources told the Excelsior.
They said soon after receiving the order from the Election Commission of India, the CEO J&K got in touch with Chief Secretary BR Sharma and conveyed to him the ECI’s decision in writing. Immediately thereafter, the Chief Secretary issued the order keeping appointments of all 16 vice chairpersons of the Public Sector Enterprises in abeyance.
According to sources, some of the leaders appointed to the Corporations as the vice chairpersons belonged to the Parliamentary constituencies of Srinagar and Anantnag, which were going to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively and had the potential of influencing the voters.
“It was in this context that the Election Commission of India decided to keep the appointments in abeyance,” sources said.
Sources, however, said that though the Government Order was made public on March 9 when the election notification was issued by the Election Commission and Model Code of Conduct was imposed in 31 Assembly segments covering seven districts in Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats, it had been signed a day before.
Therefore, they said, the Government didn’t need to rescind any appoint order and will have to keep them in abeyance.
The Election Commission of India has ordered that the order of appointments should be kept in abeyance till April 16, the day when entire election process for Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary constituencies will be completed. Counting of votes for the two seats is slated on April 15.
“All 16 appointments of vice chairpersons of the Corporations will again come into force after April 16,” sources said, adding the Government wasn’t required to issue fresh appointments order after the completion of election process.
Soon after the appointments of 16 vice chairpersons came to the light on March 9, the National Conference had immediately approached the Election Commission of India and filed written complaint seeking quashing of appointments on the ground that they were in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
“The Opposition complaint was examined first by the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K and then forwarded to the Election Commission of India. The complaint has been upheld,” sources said.
The PDP-BJP coalition Government had appointed 16 vice chairpersons to Public Sector Enterprises at Rs 80,000 per month salary and other facilities though they were officially not given the rank of the Ministers of State. However, the facilities the vice chairpersons will have, almost resembled to the status of the Ministers of State.
The PDP has taken share of nine posts of vice chairpersons and BJP seven. Almost all the vice chairpersons had started functioning on their posts despite question marks were raised on the ground that majority of PSEs were loss-making.
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