J-K Chief Electoral Officer outlines permissions framework for Assembly elections

SRINAGAR — In the spirit of facilitating smooth and transparent elections, the Office of J&K Chief Electoral Officer has issued a detailed communication to all concerned stakeholders on the flow of various permissions that would be required during the campaigning for the upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.

The permissions placed at the level of the CEO Office include vehicle permission for the transport of campaigning material by political parties across UT, vehicle permission for star campaigners and party office bearers across districts/UT and permissions for video vans across districts at UT level.

Similarly, the permissions placed at the level of the District Election Officer include applications for air balloons, construction of rostrums/barricades, permits to take out a procession with loudspeakers, applications for setting up of temporary party office, applications for rallies, applications for door-to-door canvassing, applications for permission of video van (within the district), vehicle permission for district level office bearer of a political party (within the district), permission for helicopter and helipads and application for load carrier for transport of publicity material by political parties (within the district).

The majority of permissions have been placed at the disposal of Returning Officers. These include the permit for street corner meetings with loudspeakers, permission to hold meetings without loudspeakers, one vehicle for a complete Assembly constituency for the candidate, one vehicle for a complete Assembly constituency area for the election agent of the candidate, one vehicle per Assembly constituency for the party/party worker, vehicle permission for within Assembly constituency, application for pamphlet distribution, application for a vehicle with a loudspeaker, application for display of banners and flags, application for display poster, hoarding and unipolar, application for loudspeaker permit, application for vehicle permit and permit to hold meeting with loudspeaker.

It is pertinent to mention here that all the permissions have been digitized and the political parties/candidates can apply for them directly through SUVIDHA.

The Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, encourages the candidates and political parties participating in the 2024 Assembly elections to utilize these services.