x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Stop behaving like ‘feudal lord’: Imran Ansari tells Omar Abdullah | Satellite-based toll collection system to replace toll plazas: Nitin Gadkari | MHA extends validity of FCRA registered NGOs | India’s borders totally secure: Rajnath Singh | ‘Govt open to change in Agniveer scheme’ | CS reviews development of skilling portal by BISAG | Leopard snatches 5-year-old girl | Rains lash Kashmir, more in offing | Notification issued for Jammu Lok Sabha seat | 11 injured in Poonch accident | Properties of drug peddler attached | JKBOSE reschedules 11th class exams | Yoga competition held | BLOs imparted Training about electoral process at different assembly segments of Kupwara | SVEEP programme Galvanizes Participation in electoral process at High School Nagulta | Missing girl traced out within 2 days, reunited with family | Police Reunites missing girl with Family | PCCF chairs 8th UT Level Monitoring Committee meeting | Police thwarts bovine smuggling bid, Apprehends Culprits | DEO flags-off SVEEP Van for Voter awareness in Kulgam | Chorus Grows Louder | Hilly, rural areas confronting development deficit under J&K Govt: Sadhotra | Ex-Army Chief VK Singh Sabotaged Revocation Of AFSPA In J-K, Alleges Omar Abdullah | CUK declares Mar-29, 30 as working days for all non-teaching staff | RGCN organizes workshop on Nursing edcuation | Secretary Sports Council Inaugurates Softball/Baseball5 Championship 2023-24 | GDC Vijaypur Starts Lecture Series | GDC Ramnagar conducts programme on Nasha Mukti Se Yuva Shakti | SPMR College Organizes SVEEP Programme Promoting Voter Awareness | Khour Holds Successful Anti-Drug Awareness Programme | Students Rally Against Drug Abuse in Dewan Devi Public School Event | Psychological Support for Young Adults: Lecture at GDC Bishnah | GDC Udhampur organizes awareness programme | Jammu Police started proceedings under section 82 CrPc against a Psa Absconder | Amit chairs meeting in Ladakh | Two persons injured in scuffle in Bemina Srinagar | Back Issues  
 
news details
Court issues notices on petition seeking cancellation of municipal polls
11/29/2018 11:34:26 PM
Early Times Report

JAMMU, Nov 29: A local court on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a petition filed by a lawyer seeking cancellation of the recently held municipal elections.
The petitioner, Advocate Sanjeev Sareen, has alleged that antiquated EVMs were used during the elections despite clear-cut guidelines from the Supreme Court that only those EVMs should be used which have VVPAT in them.
The Principal, District and Session Judge Jammu also issued notices to Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Jammu and Kashmir and all corporators including Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The court sought objections on the petition on the date of next hearing, January 8.
Purnima Shama, Advocate and Deputy Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation refused, in writing to accept the summons sent by the court. In a jam-packed court room, counsels for the defendants were present.
Vinod Chatterjee Koul, Principal, District and Session Judge gave a patient hearing to the petition filed on November 13.
The petitioner demands that the municipal elections held in Jammu and Kashmir be declared null and void because of the use of invalidated EVMs. Although ECI has given instructions for the destruction of these EVMs because they are not tamper-proof, these were still used in the municipal elections of Jammu and Kashmir. It needs to be mentioned here that elections to the municipal bodies of Jammu and Kashmir were held in four phases from October 8 to October 16. The results for the same were declared on October 20.
Earlier, ballot boxes were used for holding Urban Local Body elections in J&K since the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act mandated the same. This Act was amended during the Governor's rule. Vide SRO 336, Municipal Corporation Election Rules 2003 were amended and Rule 44-A was added. According to this rule, the elections were now to be held with Voting Machines instead of Ballot boxes. Through another SRO 336, Rule 56-A to 56-X were added. These rules pertain to the design of EVMs to be used. According to these rules, it was obligatory for the Chief Electoral officer to use M3 EVMs or EVMs with paper trail in the elections.
However, the CEO J&K used M1 EVMs and breached the newly added rules of J&K Municipal Corporation Act. There were several other irregularities in the conduct of the elections, the petitioner has alleged.
The petitioner has said that he gave a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer J&K pleading that they should conduct the elections either through Ballot papers or M3 EVMs (valid EVMs). He even referred to the Supreme Court judgements about the use of EVMs.
The petitioner has said that he gave this representation to all the concerned quarters well before the ULB Elections began in Jammu and Kashmir on October 8.
Senior advocate Ved Raj Wazir, Adv Amrit Sarin, Adv Abhishek Wazir besides a battery of lawyers represent the petitioner.
On being asked, Advocate Sanjeev Kumar Sareen said, "We live in a democratic country which is known all over the world for its robust electoral system. Why were discarded and disbanded EVMs used in Jammu and Kashmir at the first place? And if there was no issue with the EVMs, why the same are not being used for the Panchayat Elections. Why didn't the Governor who amended the Municipal corporation act amend the Panchayat Act?"
He further said, "The argument that the EVMs which were used for ULB elections were tamper-proof falls flat when one is told that Panchayat Elections are being held with Ballot Boxes. My grievance is the manner in which elections were held. Apart from EVMs there were several other irregularities that I have mentioned in my petition. There was breach of Model code of conduct, non-videography during scrutiny which is mandatory and no training was provided to Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officers either."
"Results from these machines have shaken the confidence of a common man because these EVMs can be hacked. There is no democracy left in India if elections cannot be conducted in a free and fair manner. The only hope now is with the judiciary to give relief and with media to highlight this issue as one of utmost importance," said Advocate Sanjeev Sareen, the petitioner.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU