Avoid campaigns:Govt directs employees

Jammu: Following a written complaint about the employees are participating in the ongoing District Development Councils (DDC) poll campaigns, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday issued anguished circular asking administrative secretaries to maintain strict vigil on activities and ensure no employee can display partiality towards any political party.
“A few cases have been received by the Commission wherein Government officials have been reported to participate in election campaign or display partiality towards a particular political party during the ongoing DDC elections Panchayat Elections thereby violating the Model Code of Conduct,” reads the letter addressed to Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir by State Election Commissioner (SEC), K K Sharma.
“While the District Panchayat Election officers concerned have been asked to verify and take further appropriate action as per election rules, I feel it necessary to utilize your good office to issue instructions to offlcers /officials at all levels of the hierarchy that a strict vigil is maintained to ensure that neither any official nor the official machinery is involved in election campaign and no partiality
is exhibited so as to ensure free, fair and incident free elections,” the letter further reads.
In the regard, the J&K government directed all the administrative secretaries to maintain strict vigil.
“It is accordingly impressed upon all Administrative Secretaries/Divisional Commissioners /Deputy Commissioners/HoD's to maintain strict vigil in this regard and ensure that no employee displays partiality towards any political party,” reads the circular issued by Commissioner/'Secretary to the Government Manoj Kumar Dwivedi.
“It shall also be ensured that no official machinery is used for the purpose of electioneering, so as to ensure a free, fair and incident free election. A copy of communication received from the State Election Commissioner, J&K,” it further reads.