x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Under PM Modi’s leadership India rising as major economic power, reclaiming its past glory: LG Sinha | One month after Kishtwar tragedy, mother’s unending wait for her missing kins continues | Safety audit of more than 50% schools pending, resumption of offline classes uncertain | Land subsidence crumbles hopes, dreams | PM Modi visits Aizawl, Mizoram; lays foundation stones of works worth over Rs 9,000 crore | Empower elected J&K Govt in accordance with aspirations of people: CM Omar | Doda: Markets return to life as restrictions eased for 6 hours | Schools to reopen tomorrow: DC | NCB Sgr busts major narcotics smuggling network; 3 arrested | Woman injured in bear attack | Drone seized near LoC | Want to make Manipur symbol of peace, prosperity: PM Modi | UPITS 2025: A grand confluence of development, investment at India Expo Mart | Cultural Unit Srinagar of DIPR organizes cultural programme | Div Com stresses on collaborative efforts for Aerospace Safety | Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul inaugurates 3rd National Lok Adalat at Baramulla | Preparations for Sewa Parv-2025 reviewed at Kupwara | CM instructs for enhanced facilities for attendants, strengthening of sanitation in hospital | Jammu Rural Police Khour arrests third absconder in FIR 107/2023 case | Miran Sahib police arrests one accused in attempt to murder case | PHC Chatroo, HW Centre Udil Gojran receive Prestigious NQAS Certification | DC Udhampur reviews preparations for Sewa Parv-2025 | DLIC approves 334 Youth Entrepreneurship cases under Mission Yuya in Kulgam | ADC Bhaderwah convenes meeting with members of civil society | DC Kulgam visits District Hospital; directs expeditious completion of ongoing projects | National Lok Adalat held at ADR Centre Court Complex Kathua | Rich Harvest hosts CBSE capacity building programme | White water rafting expedition flagged off by Tiger Division | DAV Players’ outshine in Maharaja Ranjit Singh Cup | Inspiring Celebration of Hindi Diwas held | Apni Party Delegation Submits Memorandum to Joint Commissioner | Missing person traced, reunited with family | Quiz Competition on Population Geography held at GCW Udhampur | Cadet Swastik Sharma Brings National Glory to PWS Pathankot | Can a combined MBBS-Ayurveda degree produce competent doctors? | Before Physics, There Was Math: A Journey Through Human History” | Footpaths: The Lost Spaces of Urban India | C.P Radhakrishnan: - From RSS Worker to Constitutional Custodian | Back Issues  
 
news details
Ladakh LG assures transparency in Kargil Council polls, defends court battle against 'Plough' symbol to NC
9/15/2023 9:52:00 PM
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 15: Assuring the people of Kargil a free and fair hill council election next month, Ladakh Lt Governor Brigadier (Retd) B D Mishra has defended his adminstration's protracted but unsuccessful battle in the courts against the granting of the 'plough' symbol to the National Conference.
He rejected as "totally wrong" allegations that he was biased or was working at the behest of BJP. On September 6, the Supreme Court set aside the August 5 notification of the election department of the Union Territory of Ladakh for the hill council polls and ordered the issuance of a fresh election schedule within a week.
Holding that the National Conference is entitled to the 'plough' symbol, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also dismissed the plea by the Ladakh administration opposing the allotment of the symbol to the party and imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the dispensation.
National Conference vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the Supreme Court order and said the BJP and the Ladakh administration "did everything possible" to deny them their right, but the court saw through it.
The election to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil is now scheduled for October 4 as per the fresh notification issued by the Ladakh election department.
"I am a worshipper of the Constitution of India and I have taken an oath to defend, preserve and protect it. I am a devotee of democracy and therefore I am a watchman for free and fair elections. It is my resolve that free and fair elections should take place," Brigadier (Retd) Mishra told PTI-Video in an exclusive interview in Jammu.
The Lt Governor said he is monitoring the entire election process including the deployment of staff to ensure elections are held in a "free and fair" manner.
"It is all being taken care of and I can assure (the people) that the hill council elections will be absolutely 100 percent free, fair and timely," he said.
On the National Conference's accusations the he was biased, Mishra said, "it is a totally wrong statement or a wrong insinuation." "I am the Lt Governor there (in Ladakh) and to me every party is the same. I am having no brief, suggestion or instruction from any party… responsible parties know that in a democracy, elections have to be free and fair and it has to be decided by laws, rules and regulations.
"So I am not having any brief from anybody, which is the first thing. And secondly, if somebody is saying that I am having a brief, it is totally a lie. I do not entertain such a statement because these are incorrect," the Lt Governor said.
The army veteran said he studied everything before the elections as he knew such issues may come up.
"When I studied and discussed it with my secretaries and everybody, the issue of reserving any symbol for a party was not there. So then I consulted the legal luminaries at Delhi and even I consulted very senior people, advocates who are there for the government. They said the election symbol can be reserved by the election commission of India and not by the UT government," he said.
The Lt Governor said he took the decision after self study and on the basis of the advice he got.
"The case went to high court, but once I had studied everything and once I had all the free and frank opinions from very learned advocates, I thought I had to contest it (the decision of the court).
"The advocates said what UT has decided is correct and therefore I had to go through the legal process. I could not have left it halfway because that would have (given a notion) that I don't have conviction. I had conviction, I had honesty, I had studied and I was convinced that the decision was correct. Therefore, I had to go through the legal process," he said.
  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