SRINAGAR: Political parties have strongly reacted to an order issued by Deputy Commissioner Jammu ordering revenue officials, to issue a certificate of residence to people residing in the territorial jurisdiction of Jammu “for more than one year.” This certificate, it said, will enable these people to get entry in the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls.

Avny Lavasa (IAS)

“…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 authorized to issue a certificate of residence after conducting necessary field verifications, to the person(s) residing in District Jammu for more than one year, for the purpose,” District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Avny Lavasa said in the order no 01-DEOJ of 2022 dated October 11, 2022.

The voter lists in Jammu and Kashmir are being revised and new potential voters are being added and those who are not alive are being deleted. Home Minister, Amit Shah said the polls will take place once the summary revision of the voter list is over.

The order lists the documents that will be acceptable as proof of residence. Here is the text of the order that Ms Avny Lavasa issued on October 11:

“Whereas, Special Summary Revision, 2022 has been started in Union Territory of the Jammu and Kashmir w.e.f. 15.09.2022, for registration of new voters, deletion, correction, transposition of voters who have migrated, died since last Summary Revision;

Whereas, as per guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, any of the following documents can be accepted as proof of residence:

  1. Water/Electricity/ Gas Connection for one year.
  2. Aadhar Card
  3. Current Passbook of Nationalized/ Scheduled Bank,/Post Office
  4. Indian Passport
  5. Revenue Department’s Land Owning Record including Kisan Bhai
  6. Registered Rent/ Lease Deed (in case of Tenant)
  7. Registered Sale Deed in case of own house.

Whereas, these guidelines further provides that any other proof of residence can also be accepted for registration of new voters;

Whereas, these guidelines further provides that in case none of the mentioned documents is available, field verification is must. As for example, category like homeless Indian citizens who are otherwise eligible to become electors; but do not possess any documentary proof of ordinary residence, Electoral Registration Officer shall designate an officer for field verification;

Whereas, during review meetings taken with the field functionaries viz

Electoral Registration Officers/ Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, etc- it has been noticed that some eligible voters are facing hardships in registration as Voters for non-availability of documents mentioned hereinabove;

Now, therefore, keeping in view the urgency involved in the matter and to ensure that no eligible voter is left for registration during die Special Summary Revision, 2022 In District Jammu, all Tehsildars are authorized to issue certificates 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 ferociously reacted to by the political parties.

“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,” National Conference tweeted. “BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box.”

“ECI’s latest order for registration of new voters makes it clear that GOIs colonial settler project has been initiated in Jammu. They will bear the first blow to Dogra culture, identity, employment & business,” Ms Mehbooba Mufti tweeted. “BJPs attempts to create religious & regional divisions between Jammu & Kashmir must be thwarted because whether its a Kashmiri or a Dogra, safeguarding our identity & rights will be possible only if we put up a collective fight.”

“The latest order by DC Jammu authorising revenue officials to issue certificate of residence to outsiders residing in Jammu for more than one year is highly suspicious aimed at enabling them to vote. This goes against the SC judgement on the issue,” Peoples Conference said. “The onus of proving our suspicions wrong yet again lies on the ECI and the J&K administration. They must clarify if such a directive is permissible.”

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