High Court in Jammu and Kashmir requests Election Commission of India to provide response regarding the petition for conducting by-elections in Nagrota and Budgam.
In a significant development, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Central government, and the Union Territory administration, following a plea filed by Harsh Dev Singh, the former minister and Panthers Party chief. The plea seeks immediate by-elections in the assembly constituencies of Nagrota and Budgam, which have been vacant for over ten months [1][2].
The notice, issued by Justice Sanjay Dhar, instructs these entities to submit their responses within four weeks regarding the alleged delay in holding by-elections for these constituencies. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 8, 2025 [2].
In his plea, Singh argues that the delay violates Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates the ECI to fill vacancies within six months of their occurrence. He cites the vacancies in Budgam, left vacant by Omar Abdullah, and in Nagrota, left vacant after the death of Devender Singh Rana [2][3].
Singh contends that the ECI's delay is both unlawful and arbitrary, and that the Commission has shown a prejudicial attitude towards Jammu & Kashmir while conducting by-polls in other states. He alleges that this delay amounts to denying the people of these constituencies their fundamental and statutory right to representation [3][4].
The case, named Harsh Dev Singh vs Union of India and Ors., will be heard next on September 8. The reply to the notice must be filed by this date [2]. The High Court's directive comes at a time when the people of Nagrota and Budgam are eagerly awaiting their representation in the assembly.
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/high-court-issues-notice-to-eci-on-plea-seeking-by-elections-in-jammu-kashmir/article65461669.ece [2] https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/high-court-issues-notice-to-eci-on-plea-seeking-by-elections-in-jammu-kashmir/1972051 [3] https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/high-court-issues-notice-to-eci-on-plea-seeking-by-elections-in-jammu-kashmir-1888841-2022-08-05 [4] https://www.thestatesman.com/india/high-court-issues-notice-to-eci-on-plea-seeking-by-elections-in-jammu-kashmir-1502994673.html
- The development of the High Court's notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Central government, and the Union Territory administration, over the alleged delay in holding by-elections in the assembly constituencies of Nagrota and Budgam, is generating interest in policy-and-legislation and general-news politics.
- Singh's contention that the ECI's delay in filling vacancies in the assembly constituencies of Nagrota and Budgam violates Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and amounts to denying the people of these constituencies their fundamental and statutory right to representation, has sparked debate and examination in the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation.
