Jammu, September 28
The vice-president of the BJP, Prof Hari Om, has accused the PDP-led coalition government of violating high court directions by not directing the authorities concerned not to put the stamp “valid till marriage” on the state subject certificates being issued to women applicants.

In a statement, Prof Hari Om said the full Bench of the high court had on September 24 ordered on a public interest litigation, filed by the BJP leader, that in view of the verdict of the Division Bench of the high court, given about two years ago, “valid till marriage” should not be written on the state subject certificates issued to those women who are permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP leader said four days had passed and the revenue officials, certificate-issuing authorities had not received any direction advising them to restore parity in the issuance of state subject certificates to male and female applicants.

He said by ignoring the court direction the ruling coalition had shown scant respect for the judiciary.

Prof Hari Om said he would wait for a week and in case the gender inequality was not removed by the government in the context of the issuance of state subject certificates, he would file a fresh application accusing the government of contempt of court.

Srinagar, September 28
An intensive revision of electoral rolls, which is being held in Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of 16 years, is under completion and the draft would be made public by next month end.

Disclosing this here today, the Election Commissioner of India, Mr B.B. Tandon, said that the enumeration work had been completed and was at present in the process of verification. Any rectification in this regard would be made after publication of the draft on October 29, he said.

Mr Tandon added that the drafts would be displayed at post offices, where prescribed forms for any changes and inclusions would also be made available to the voters.

This was for the first time that the post offices would be involved in the revision of electoral rolls where the applicants could also submit the forms for any changes and inclusions. Once verified, the electoral rolls would be finally put on the website, he said.

Mr Tandon was accompanied by the Deputy Election Commissioner of India, Dr Noor Mohammad, and other senior officials. He also address a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, in connection with by-elections to four Assembly constituencies on October 13. These constituencies include Pahalgam and Batamaloo in Kashmir valley and Akhnoor and Basohli in Jammu division.

The EC team was here to review the poll arrangements and preparedness and to monitor the intensive revision for electoral rolls.

Mr Tandon said that adequate security measures were being taken and “nobody would allowed to obstruct the polling”.

He said that no intimidation of the voters would be allowed on the occasion. “We are trying to create an atmosphere, where voters feel free to come forward and exercise their vote, as this is their fundamental right”, Mr Tandon commented.

The visiting EC team had a series of meetings with the leaders of three major political parties, the Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday followed by similar meetings with senior civil administration and police officers here today.

The team had also separate meetings with the Chief Secretary, Dr S.S. Bloeria, and the Director General of Police, Mr Gopal Sharma.

Referring to the meetings with leaders of the political parties, Mr Tandon held that they expressed full faith in the electoral machinery. One more observer each would be appointed for the two constituencies of the Kashmir valley, the Election Commissioner informed.

The main Opposition party, National Conference, he said, had made certain allegations like the violation of code of conduct by dint of taking up new works in Pahalgam and Batamaloo, new tenders and misuse of official machinery. “We have asked for a report on these allegations” from the State Chief Secretary, Mr Tandon said.

Referring to the allegation made by NC over issuance of 5000 bogus voter identity cards, Mr Tandon claimed that the officials concerned had confirmed that only 100 fresh voter cards had been issued so far.

He added that directions had been issued to suspend the issuance of fresh cards and that the verification of voters would be made only with the help of other means.

It had also been decided that all the presiding officers would be Central Government officers and other staff would be from outside the district, Mr Tandon said.

Srinagar, September 28
The Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Mr Gopal Sharma, has been asked to furnish a report to the Election Commission of India on the progress in an FIR lodged against the PDP President, Ms Mehbooba Mufti.

Replying a question, the Election Commissioner, Mr B.B. Tandon, said here that the DG Police had been asked to furnish the report immediately.

An FIR had been lodged against the PDP President, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, during the last Lok Sabha elections here. It had been alleged that Ms Mufti had lifted the burqa of a woman inside a polling station here in violation of the rules.

Jammu, September 28
Leaders of several Sikh organisations have said in case the Pakistan Government does not take measures for checking the recurrence of attacks on Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, “we will be forced to knock the doors of the United Nations for action against Islamabad.”

At a meeting here today, which was presided by Mr S.S. Wazir, former president of the State Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, the leaders of various organisations condemned the attack on the gurdwara.

A resolution was adopted which requested the Prime Minister, and SGPC leaders to take up the matter with the Pakistan President and Prime Minister.

It said on the one hand Pakistan was keen to normalise its relations with India and on the other, it “allowed” anti social elements to attack the gurdwara.

Those who attended the meeting included Mr Narbir Singh, president of the state Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser of Bhai Kanaya Nishkam Sewa Society, Mr Paramjit Singh, president of AISSF, and Mr Amar Singh, president of the Sikh Welfare Society.