43 pc voting in two DDC constituencies in Kashmir

HC junks plea seeking repolling of Hajin-A constituency
Srinagar: Around 43 per cent voting was recorded in the two District Development Consistencies (DDC) in Jammu and Kashmir which went to the re-poll on Monday, an official spokesman said.
The polling for the DDC seats of Hajin-A in Bandipora and Drugmulla in Kupwara was necessitated due to the disputed qualification of contesting candidates.
The spokesman said 42 polling stations were set up for DDC Drugmulla, which recorded a voting percentage of 32.73 per cent.
A total of 10,724 votes were polled against the total electorate of 16,026. As many as 5,624 males and 5,100 females exercised their franchise. Also, 141 migrant votes were cast at special polling stations for Kashmiri Migrants set up at GMS Jagti, GGHS Patta Bohri and GMS Model Higher Secondary school Udhampur, he said.
Similarly, in Hajin-A, 53.33 per cent voting was recorded in 57 polling stations.
A total of 8,669 electors, out of the total 16,313, cast their votes. As many as 4,717 males out of 8,565 and 3,982 females out of 7,748 exercised their franchise, the spokesman said.
The voting, which started at 7 am and concluded at 2 pm, passed off peacefully with people across the age groups participating in it, he said.
Kashmiri Migrants also cast their votes in special polling stations setup for them in different places in Jammu, he added.
The DDC elections took place in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2020. However, the counting of votes was withheld in these two seats due to the disputed qualification of two candidates.
Later, the state election commission declared the polling to these constituencies as void, cancelling the candidature of Soomia Sadaf and Shazia Aslam, citing wrong information about the place of birth by the PoK-origin candidates.
Counting for both constituencies will be held on December 8, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, High Court dismissed plea seeking re-poll of DDC constituency Hajin-A.
Justice Sanjay Dhar of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court today dismissed the petition filed by Abida Afazal Notification/order No.SEC/ PYT/2022/24 dated 16.11.2022 as also order No.22/SEC/DDC/ 2022 dated 1611.2022, issued by respondent No.2, whereby re-poll of DDC constituency Hajin-A has been scheduled for 5th December, 2022.
A further direction has been sought commanding the respondents to hold the counting of votes polled in favour of the candidates to the exclusion of respondent No.4. A direction has also been sought upon the respondents to declare the result of DDC constituency Hajin-A on the basis of already held polling to the exclusion of respondent No.4
Justice Sanjay Dhar while dismissing the petition, observed that It has been contended by counsel for the petitioner that both the orders regarding declaration of earlier poll as void and announcing the re-poll are arbitrary in nature as respondent No.1 does not have authority to do so and, as such, the writ petition is maintainable. In this regard, it has already been held that respondent No.1 has vast powers under Section 36 of the Panchayati Raj Act read with Rule 108-ZM of the Rules to pass any order for smooth conduct of the election.