Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed authorities in Ladakh to ensure “plough” symbol is allotted to National Conference, failing which Chief Secretary and Chief Election Officer of the UT have been ordered to appear personally before it on August 23.
“Keeping in view the fact that the last date for filing nominations is 23.08.2023, the respondents (authorities) are directed to comply with the order dated 09.08.2023 read with order dated 14.08.2023, and file compliance report by the next date, failing which respondents 1 (CS) and 2 (CEO) shall appear in person on the next date of hearing,” a bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma said while hearing a contempt petition filed by the National Conference through its general secretary. The contempt plea has been listed on August 23.
As per 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.
The Ladakh administration had approached Division Bench of the court on August 14 against the single bench order of August 9 which directed the NC to approach the office of the Election Department of the Administration of Ladakh for notifying the reserved symbol (Plough) already allotted to for the polls. The order of the single bench was upheld by the Division bench.
“The Ladakh administration tried to get the HC order stayed. This was refused. They then tried to get the contempt proceedings of the HC stayed, this was also refused by the SC,” senior NC leader Tanveer Sadiq said in a statement.
“If the order to allot us our symbol is not issued by this evening the contempt order of the HC will prevail. The CS Ladakh & Chief Election Officer will have to appear in person in the HC tomorrow,” he said, adding, “We hope that the Ladakh Admin will follow the directions of the court & issue the order for allotment of our symbol. We fail to see why the administration has made an ego issue out of this symbol allotment.”
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