The Hindu : Poll officers for J&K likely from outside

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 31, 2002

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Poll officers for J&K likely from outside

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JULY 30. The Election Commission is thinking of appointing all the presiding officers for elections in Jammu and Kashmir from outside the State to ensure credibility.

Well-placed official sources told The Hindu here that the Centre was taking its own measures to see that elections in the State were "free, fair and transparent", rather than paying heed to any advice from external forces, particularly on the issue of allowing international observers. As part of the modalities being worked out to give the polls a credible look, it is also planning to send at least one polling officer from outside the State in order to "silence" the forces which talk of rigging of polls.

The State Government has been sounded and it had no objections to the move. Polling would be conducted through the electronic voting machines and presiding officers from outside the State were "more conversant with the machines in their States". A list of the "officers of repute" had already been finalised by the Commission, sources said.

This will be the second time that presiding and polling officers will be brought in from outside Jammu and Kashmir. In the 1996 parliamentary and Assembly elections, the entire official machinery was from outside in the wake of a boycott by the State Government employees in Kashmir.

Sources also indicated that there was possibility of imposing Governor's rule as the Farooq Abdullah Government had voiced strong opposition to any such decision. Earlier, the NC regime was said to have agreed to Central rule after its president, Omar Abdullah, would take over as Chief Minister.

Sources said the elections would be held on schedule and the notification was likely to be issued in the middle of August. The first phase may be held on September 16 as part of a three-phase process and may begin from Kupwara district.

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