Kargil Local Body Elections On October 4, J&K's National Conference Gets 'Plough' Symbol Back

According to the announcement issued by administrative secretary Yetindra M Maralkar, the election for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil will take place on October 4.

Following a knock on the knuckles from the Supreme Court, the Ladakh election department issued a new regulation reserving the 'plough' emblem for the National Conference in the upcoming Kargil local body elections, news agency PTI reported. According to the announcement issued by administrative secretary Yetindra M Maralkar, the election for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil will take place on October 4. "In pursuance to the order of the Supreme Court dated 06/09/2023..., the symbol 'Plough' is hereby reserved for the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party for the ensuing elections...," the notification reads. 

Declaring that the National Conference is entitled to the 'plough' sign, a bench comprised of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah dismissed the Ladakh administration's petition against the party's use of the symbol and levied a Rs 1 lakh fine on it on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court stated in its 51-page judgement that it did not find substance in the Ladakh administration's petition and that the National Conference's plea for assignment of the 'plough' emblem was "bonafide, legitimate and just, for the plain reason that in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir (which included the present Union Territory of Ladakh), it was a recognized State Party having been allotted the 'plough' symbol."

Taking a strong stance against the Ladakh administration, the apex court stated: "What is also clear is that the appellants (Ladakh administration) are attempting to approbate and reprobate." According to the Ladakh government, the National Conference was not given the emblem since the election department was in the process of organising elections. On this, the court said: "it would not be out of place to mention that this Court can even turn the clock back, if the situation warrants such dire measures. The powers of this Court, if need be, to even restore status quo ante are not in the realm of any doubt."

The bench also requested that the Ladakh administration deposit Rs 1 lakh in the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Welfare Fund.

Previously, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court denied the Ladakh administration's appeal against a single bench judgement permitting NC candidates to run on the party emblem in the impending elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil.

The administration had appealed the high court's division bench against the single bench judgement of August 9 that asked the NC to approach the Election Department of the administration of Ladakh to notify the reserved symbol 'plough' previously given to them in the polls.

According to a notification issued by the election authority on August 5, elections for 26 seats on the 30-member LAHDC, Kargil, are slated for September 10, with voting taking place four days later.

NC leader Omar Abdullah said: "Election guidelines are very clear about the allocation of symbols. Clearly, the administration in Ladakh had a very biased agenda which is why they went all the way to the SC to deny us our right." According to the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, the Supreme Court's judgement on the Ladakh administration's actions was harsh. "Biased Ladakh administration failed to stop us from contesting council polls," he said.