Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 14: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken several measures to ensure free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir—both Lok Sabha and Assembly—which were due in the current year. While Lok Sabha elections are due to be held in April-May, the Assembly elections would be held somewhere in November-December.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Election Commission would install hidden cameras in randomly selected sensitive polling booths all across the State. The cameras would be directly linked via internet to the office of the Election Commission of India in New Delhi and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir.
The long term proposal included access of internet linked cameras to the offices of all 22 Deputy Commissioners of the State, sources said, adding during Lok Sabha elections the process to monitor the procedure of voting in sensitive polling booths would be confined to the Special Control Rooms set up in the offices of the ECI and the CEO. At the later stage, most likely by the Assembly elections, the similar facility would be ready in the offices of all DCs of Jammu and Kashmir, who serve as Returning Officers of their districts.
Sources said only the officials in the ECI, the CEO and at later stage the Deputy Commissioners would be aware of the sensitive polling stations, where internet connected hidden cameras would have been fixed.
“This would help the ECI, the CEO and the Deputy Commissioners to detect any ‘wrongdoing’ by the polling officials, the polling agents or the electorates and any outsiders,’’ sources said, adding that these initiatives were aimed at curbing any malpractices in the elections all over the country.
They said even the Presiding Officers and other staff wouldn’t be aware of the polling stations, which would have been connected with internet accessed hidden cameras, whose proceedings would be monitored by the Election Commission both in New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
“All polling stations fitted selected for monitoring against any attempt of rigging or any other malpractices would be kept secret. The hidden cameras in these polling stations would be installed well ahead of the elections,’’ sources said.
They added that the new strategy of the Election Commission of India would go a long way in curbing any attempt of bogus voting, rigging or any other kind of malpractices as the polling staff and ‘outside elements’ would be aware that they might be clicked by the hidden cameras if they indulged in any ‘wrongdoing’.
Sources said during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which were likely to be held anytime in April-May, the monitoring process would be confined with the Election Commission offices in New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir while in the Assembly polls, which were due late this year, the facility would be extended to all 22 Deputy Commissioners, who act as Returning Officers or Assistant Returning Officers for the elections.
The Election Commission would set up Special Control Rooms to monitor the specially selected polling stations in the sensitive areas, they added.
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