ECI directs J&K admin to stop preventive detentions, rally cancellations as assembly polls draw nearer

To increase participation in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the administration and security officials not to undertake unnecessary preventive detention of political leaders and workers, refrain from merging or shifting polling booths citing security concerns.

The commission also asked authorities not to cancel rallies at the last minute – a practice witnessed in past elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu told officials while visiting J&K last month that preventive action should not be taken in a partisan manner and only those with criminal history should be taken into detention, a newspaper website quoting EC sources reported.

Notably, leaders and workers of parties have been taken into preventive detention on the eve of polling in the past. Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue during the Lok Sabha elections in May this year. She alleged that her party workers and polling agents were detained.'

The EC has told the J&K administration to stop the undue arrests around polling day, except for those with anti-social or criminal backgrounds.

To ensure a hassle-free polling, the EC has instructed officials not to merge or move polling booths.

In Lok Sabha elections, booths were changed a day or two before the polling which caused confusion among voters.

To encourage maximum participation of candidates, the EC has also instructed the administration not to cancel rallies and other poll-related events at the last minute and to grant permission for events on time.

“This time, it is centered around enthusiasm and participation across every facet and layer of electioneering including parties, voters, candidates, campaigning, etc. It is the real jashn-e-jamhooriyat (Celebration of Democracy) and strengthening of democracy.” A newspaper quoted CEC Rajiv Kumar told as saying.

J&K parties and candidates had lodged 3,034 requests seeking permissions for rallies/ events, of which 2,223 were accepted and 327 rejected as on Sep 10, according to EC data.

There have been 655 requests, of which 428 were approved in Haryana, which will go to polling on Oct 8.

In its first Assembly elections in a decade, J&K is bracing to vote in the first phase on Sep 18, and the second and third phases on Sep 25 and Oct 1, respectively.

In the Lok Sabha elections in May this year, J&K recorded around 58.58% voter turnout.