Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27: Seeking early elections to J&K Legislative Assembly, Harsh Dev Singh, JKNPP chairman and former Minister today said that any delay in this regard would not only amount to subversion of democracy but also violate judgments of the Supreme Court.
Harsh Dev was reacting to a news item published in a section of media today suggesting the possibility of Assembly elections after the Parliament polls by extending the President’s Rule. The people could not be deprived of their democratic rights in the State only for the political inexpediencies of the ruling party at the centre, said Singh while addressing a press conference here today.
With the State earlier remaining under Governor Rule for six months followed by President’s Rule, it would be wholly unjustified and unconstitutional to plan further extension of Central Rule after May 21 as was being suggested through media reports, said Harsh Dev Singh. It was ridiculous to take the plea of shortage of security personnel for holding simultaneous polls for Parliament and Assembly in the State as the number of polling stations to be catered by security staff for both the elections remains the same, maintained Singh.
Harsh said that even the Supreme Court had ruled that Elections to Legislative Assemblies in states, where Assemblies are prematurely dissolved, should be held within a period of six months. In the case of J&K, the period of six months expiring on May 21, the Elections to Legislative Assembly were required to be held within the time frame prescribed by Apex Court and popular Government installed before the stipulated deadline, observed Singh.
He appealed the Election Commission of India to take a decision for holding early elections in the light of legal position on the subject without being influenced and without succumbing to the pressures and dictates of the ruling clique.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
