J&K: People Residing In Jammu For More Than A Year Can Register As Voters, Says DC Orders

Dy Commissioner for Jammu issued the direction after take a note that some eligible voters were having difficulties registering to vote since the necessary papers were not readily available.

To make it easier for residents of Jammu to be included in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral lists, authorities on Wednesday gave tehsildars (revenue officials) permission to issue certificates of residency to people who have lived in the winter capital for more than a year, news agency PTI reported.

Avny Lavasa, District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner for Jammu, issued the direction after take a note that some eligible voters were having difficulties registering to vote since the necessary papers were not readily available.

In response to serious concerns raised by various political parties regarding the inclusion of non-locals as voters, the Special Summary Revision of the electoral rolls has begun in the Union Territory with effect from September 15. This will allow for the registration of new voters as well as the deletion, correction, and transposition of voters who have moved or died since the last summary revision.

Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference, is the leader of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which on Saturday announced the creation of a 14-member committee to develop a plan of action regarding any attempt to "manipulate and include" non-locals in the updated electoral rolls.

In addition to the Shiv Sena, Congress, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party (DSSP), and Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), the panel includes representatives from the five PAGD constituency.

“…Keeping in view the urgency involved in the matter and to ensure that no eligible voter is left for registration during the Special Summary Revision, 2022 in district Jammu, all Tehsildars are authorised to issue certificate of residence after conducting necessary field verifications, to the person(s) residing in district Jammu for more than one year, for the purpose,” the order was quoted by PTI in its report.

Avny Lavasa cited the Election Commission of India's recommendations, which state that field verification is required if any of the aforementioned papers are not readily available while registering eligible voters.

“As for example, categories like homeless Indian citizens who are otherwise eligible to become electors but do not possess any documentary proof of ordinary residence, electoral registration officers shall designate an officer for field verification…,” the order read.

It was noted that some eligible voters are having difficulties registering to vote due to a lack of papers during review meetings with field staff members, including electoral registration officers and assistant electoral registration officers.

In response to the directives, the National Conference tweeted: ”The Government is going ahead with its plan to add 25 lakh non-local voters in J&K and we continue to oppose this move. BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box.” 

Except for the BJP, almost all political parties have strongly opposed the inclusion of non-locals as voters, an issue that arose in August when the then-chief electoral officer Hirdesh Kumar stated that Jammu and Kashmir is likely to receive around 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders, following the special summary revision of electoral rolls held for the first time following the repeal of Article 370 in 2019.

(With Inputs From Agencies)