Element "E" belongs to the period 4 and group 16 of the periodic table. The valence shell electron configuration of the element, which is just above "E" in the group is

We need to find the valence shell electron configuration of the element just above "E" in group 16. Element "E" is in Period 4, Group 16, which corresponds to Selenium (Se). Therefore, the element just above it in Period 3 is Sulphur (S).

Sulphur (S) has atomic number 16 and an electronic configuration of $$1s^2\, 2s^2\, 2p^6\, 3s^2\, 3p^4$$; hence the valence shell (n = 3) configuration is $$3s^2\, 3p^4$$. Thus, the correct answer is Option C: $$3s^2\, 3p^4$$.