Retirement sanctioned, two SSPs likely to contest poll

Jammu, August 23

In an interesting turn of events, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has sanctioned voluntary retirement of two Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) in two days and they are likely to contest the upcoming Assembly poll.

Sharing the same name, SSP Mohan Lal and SSP Mohan Lal Kaith are likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest from Akhnoor and Marh Assembly constituencies, respectively. Both the police officers had tendered their resignation and applied for voluntary retirement recently.

While Mohan Lal is a 1999 batch J&K Police Service (JKPS) officer, Kaith is a 2003 batch JKPS officer and both have been approached by the BJP to contest the poll. The voluntary retirement of Mohan Lal was accepted on Friday whereas that of Kaith was accepted on Thursday.

In an order, the Home Department stated: “Sanction is hereby accorded to the voluntary retirement of Mohan Lal Kaith with effect from 31-8-2024 in terms of Article 230 of the J&K Civil Service Regulation Volume-1”.

On the other hand, the order for Mohan Lal read: “Sanction is hereby accorded to the voluntary retirement of Mohan Lal, with effect from 20-8-2024 in relaxation of rules, with the condition that all liabilities and outstanding, if any, shall be recovered from the officer”.

Mohan Lal is a known face in Akhnoor Assembly constituency because of his social and religious works in the area. On the other hand, Kaith is also expected to be fielded by the saffron party from Marh constituency.

Both Akhnoor and Marh are Scheduled Caste reserved constituencies and Congress and BJP are expected to face each other in a tough battle.