Srinagar
The Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer on Tuesday deferred panchayat by-polls, which was scheduled to held in eight phases from March 5 to March 20.
The by-election to over 12,500 panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir was scheduled to be held in eight phases from March 5.
“Home Department Government of Jammu and Kashmir vide its letter No: Home/ISA/237/2019 dated 18-02-2020 has advised the Election Authority to consider deferring of the conduct of polls based on credible inputs from the law enforcement agencies,” reads the notification issued by Chief Electoral Officer Jammu and Kashmir reads.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of powers under section 36 of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, read with Rule 8 and Rule 40 of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, the Notifications dated 15-02-2020 and 17-02-2020 issued for Phase I and Phase II respectively, and the schedule issued on 13Ih February 2020 for other phases of the Panchayat Bi-Elections 2020 are hereby withdrawn. After addressing all the concerns suitably at the earliest, possibly in two to three weeks, the fresh schedule shall be notified,” it reads.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission (EC) held a meeting with political parties in Jammu to hear their concerns.
The opposition parties said they cannot contest with all their leaders in detention.
