Arvind Karwani reviews preparations for Kashmiri Migrants’ participation in upcoming Assembly Elections at New Delhi

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 6: Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M), J&K, Dr. Arvind Karwani, today chaired a meeting with the Assistant Returning Officers and representatives of the prominent Kashmiri Migrant organizations at New-Delhi, to take stock of the arrangements being put in place with regard to conduct of upcoming General Elections to Legislative Assembly.

Dr Karwani emphasized on ensuring all requisite Assured Minimum Facilities(AMF) at all designated Special Polling Stations at New-Delhi viz. permanent ramps, drinking water, toilet facilities as per norms of Election Commission of India.

He emphasized on reaching out to the voters and ensuring all necessary facilitation, particularly keeping in view the scattered population of the migrants in the Delhi NCT region.

Pertinent to mention that the Election Commission of India Vide Notification No-3/J&K-LA/2024 dated 22-08-2024, has notified the scheme for Kashmiri Migrants to vote in person at notified Special Polling Stations and voting by means of postal ballots pertaining to the General Election to Assembly Constituencies falling in Kashmir Province of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the notified scheme 19 Special Polling Stations in Jammu and 01 in Udhampur have been mapped to the Camps/Zones individually, ensuring that every Zone has at least one special polling station. The intra-zonal jurisdiction for each such polling station has been earmarked keeping in mind the distance/ease of approach for each set of electors.

All electors within 07 days of the notification of the draft electoral roll extract, can approach the respective Assistant Returning Officers ( Migrant) at Jammu and Udhampur, or their respective Zonal Officers (Nodal Officers)/Booth Level Officers (BLO’s) , in case his/her name does not figure in the draft electoral roll extract, or in case any elector wishes to opt for voting through postal ballot or vote at original polling station in Kashmir valley. Further, Deputy Director Horticulture (P&M) and Deputy Secretary in the Office of Resident Commissioner, have also been appointed as the ARO for the receipt of applications, conduct of poll etc at the special polling stations provided in Delhi. Four special polling stations have been set up at New-Delhi. The requirement of filing M-Form in Delhi has also been simplified.

Any ‘notified voter’ who wishes to vote by post is required to make an application for postal ballot in Form 12-C appended to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 to any of the AROs at least 10 days before the date of poll in the in the Assembly constituency in which he is registered as elector.

The ARO Migrant at Jammu has been made solely responsible for handling these applications. The Form -12 C and M-form ( for migrants residing outside J&K) can also be sent through online mode through concerned ERO where the migrant is residing.

Dr Karwani, appreciated the suggestions put forth by the representatives of prominent social organizations, regarding facilitation of migrant voters, and asked the concerned Assistant Returning Officers to involve them in SVEEP activities.