Election Commission drops order to enroll outsiders in J&K

Srinagar: The Jammu election officer withdrew an order directing tehsildars to enroll outsiders living in Jammu district for over a year as voters in the ongoing exercise of revision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory (UT) ahead of the Assembly polls.

A senior official from the Jammu administration told the order issued two days ago “stands withdrawn”. However, the details of the fresh order were not made public till late Thursday evening.

Avny Lavasa, District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, had authorized tehsildars to issue certificates of residence to those residing in Jammu for more than a year “to facilitate their entry in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls”.

“For categories like homeless Indian citizens, who are otherwise eligible to become electors but do not possess any documentary proof of ordinary residence, electoral registration officers shall designate an officer for field verification,” the order read.

The submission of the final electoral roll in J&K has been fixed from October 31 to November 25. This will prepare the ground for the Assembly elections in the UT of J&K, which was split into two UTs on August 5, 2019, and its special constitutional position struck down. J&K has been under governor’s rule since 2018 and saw the last Assembly elections in 2014.