Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Thursday ordered authorities in Ladakh to issue “plough” symbol to National Conference for contesting the ensuing election to LAHDC Kargil.
According to a notification issued by the election department on August 5, the election to 26 seats of the 30-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, is scheduled for September 10 and the counting of votes will take place four days later.
“Keeping in view that the upcoming General Election of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) stands announced, the petitioner-party (NC) is directed to approach the office of the respondents 1 to 3 & 5 (UT of Ladakh, District election Officer Kargil & Administrative Secretary election department Ladakh) for notifying the reserved symbol (Plough) already allotted to it,” Justice Sindhu Sharma said , adding, “Respondents 1 to 3 & 5 shall notify the symbol allotted to petitioner-party in terms of Paragraphs 10 and 10 (A) of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and allow the candidates set up by the petitioner-party to contest on the reserved election symbol (plough) already allotted to the party.”
The court was hearing a petition filed by National Conference through its General Secretary A M Sagar stating that the party is aggrieved by a notification issued by election department, Ladakh on July 26, excluding the reservation of election symbol allocated to the party.
In its plea, National Conference had said it being the incumbent political party in power in the present LAHDC, Kargil, seeks to contest the upcoming elections of LAHDC on allocated reserved election symbol (Plough). The authorities, it said, have not notified the election symbol already allotted and reserved by the party for the upcoming elections, which has “deprived the party to contest the election on the symbol”.
T. M. Shamsi, Deputy Solicitor General of lndia, had opposed the contention on the ground that the party is not a recognized State Political Party in Union Territory of Ladkah and is only recognized as State Political Party for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The symbol, he said, is reserved only for the Union Territory of J&K as per the notification issued by Election Commission of India.
The allotment of symbols in terms of notification dated 26.07.2023 is regarding National Parties free symbols is to be chosen by other than recognized political parties for the elections to LAHDC, Kargil. No party has been recognized/identified as a State Party in the Union Territory of Ladakh, therefore, no symbol has been reserved for them, he said. In terms of Rules 17 and 18 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Election) Rules, 1995, symbols are reserved only for political parties recognized by the Election Commission as National/State Party.
Meanwhile, NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah has described the court as a major victory for his party.
“In a major victory for @JKNC_ in the J&K High Court today, the court ordered the UT of Ladakh to allot Hal (Plough) symbol for candidates of the party to contest the Hill council elections for which the notification has been issued a few days ago. Our lawyer @ShariqJReyaz ,engaged by the party, did an excellent job in securing this vital win for the @JkncKargil in court.” Omar wrote on Twitter.
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