Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday ordered immediate renovation and refurbishing of the Assembly complexes in Jammu and Srinagar, a directive coming after chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the poll panel was committed to early elections but gave no dates.

The Assembly complexes in Jammu and Srinagar, the winter and summer capitals of the Union Territory, have fallen in disuse since 2018. The Hindi drama series Maharani, starring Huma Qureshi, was shot in the Jammu Assembly last year, causing an uproar.

An official spokesperson said Dulloo chaired a meeting on Saturday to draw up a plan to make the twin Assembly complexes session-ready after the elections are held in the UT.

“Those present include principal secretary, estates; principal secretary, finance; commissioner secretary, IT; JK resident commissioner, Delhi; secretary, R&B; secretary, transport; secretary, law; secretary, legislative Assembly; director, estates, Kashmir and other officers concerned,” the spokesperson said.

“During the meeting, the chief secretary impressed upon the concerned to take immediate steps for renovation/refurbishing of the Assembly complexes at Jammu and Srinagar in a time-bound manner,” the spokesperson said. No time frame was, however, laid down.

Dulloo said facilities such as the functionality of sound systems, Internet connectivity, fire safety and elevators must be checked and the buildings given a facelift at the earliest.

“He (chief secretary) asked the officials to take steps to renovate the chambers of the Speaker, deputy Speaker and the leader of the Opposition, besides making provisions for their official vehicles and residential accommodations,” the spokesperson said.

Dulloo also called upon the officials to carry out repair works of the MLA hostels in both cities.

“He (Dulloo) said all the amenities should be installed within the available time window till the culmination of the Assembly elections, as and when announced,” the official said. “He observed that pre-emptive steps should be initiated on the part of the administration to make preparations ahead of the elections so that there are no hindrances in the smooth functioning of this pillar of democracy...”