8 VCs’ appointment to be kept in abeyance

 Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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Jammu, Mar 16: Election Commission of India has decided not to quash the appointment of the 14 activists of PDP, BJP and Peoples Conference as Vice Chairpersons of different Public Sector Undertakings, boards and corporations even as that of the eight appointees from Central and South Kashmir would be put in abeyance on Friday.

Highly placed sources told STATE TIMES that ECI has not fully endorsed the opposition National Conference’s complaint that the orders of appointment issued after announcement of the polling schedule was directly a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. However, on a report submitted by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu, ECI has decided to put in abeyance the appointment of the eight PDP and BJP activists who are permanent residents of Central and South Kashmir.

Shantmanu is understood to have been called for a meeting on several election related issues including the NC’s complaint against appointment of the 14 ruling coalition activists as Vice Chairpersons of PSUs. On Friday, NC’s complaint would be disposed of in his presence in New Delhi.

Those who would not be allowed to hold office and function as VCs include Gulzar Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited), Ataullah Samnani (J&K Minerals Limited), Parvez Ahmad (J&K State Road Transport Corporation), Nazir Ahmad Itoo (J&K Cements Limited) and Muntazir Mohiuddin (J&K Cable Car Corporation) all PDP besides Khalid Jehangir (J&K Projects Construction Corporation) and ‘Dr’ Ali Muhammad (SICOP) of BJP and Rashid Mehmood (J&K Agro Industries Development Corporation) of PC.

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[STATE TIMES]