Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 2: The people from Ward No.58, 59 including Paloura, Muthi and parts of Roop Nagar have alleged massive discrepancies and irregularities being committed in the new voter lists being prepared by the JMC staff deputed in view of coming Jammu Municipal Corporation elections.
The people of the area who came along with some fresh voter lists to this office, revealed that concerned authorities started exercise of deletion, addition and preparing fresh votes in all the wards of Jammu in view of coming JMC elections. The people were asked to fill applications and submit forms from October 19 to 30 along with two photographs. But by sitting in their respective offices the concerned officials of Ward 59/58 prepared revised list of Electoral rolls by adding nearly 500-600 votes. Moreover, no fresh photos were taken and pasted on the lists. They also shown the fresh lists duly issued by Electoral Registration Officer, Babu Ram, presently posted as Joint Commissioner JMC, Jammu.
These people demanded review of lists and apprehended that bogus voters have been inducted just to avoid this extensive exercise and give benefit to some favourites. They also sought the intervention of Chief Electoral Officer Jammu into this matter.
Joint Commissioner, JMC Babu Ram when contacted said that date of preparing fresh votes has been extended by one week as several requests were received from the people and former Corporators. It was found that work was not done properly in certain wards. The Joint Commissioner said he also received similar complaints from some wards including 59. He said now forms will be accepted up to November 6 and thereafter, scrutiny will be conducted. He claimed that no final lists have been published. They along with photographs will come only after scrutiny. Many votes may be cancelled during the exercise and the lists shown by some people now will be just `draft publication’ to carry out final exercise. He said they have taken decision to induct photographs in the lists for JMC/ Local Bodies elections as is done in case of Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The process is yet going on and final lists are yet to be published.