Srinagar: The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, has directed the Election Commission of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to undertake “purification” and authentication of the electoral rolls and membership list before conducting elections to its Executive Committee.
The directive, shared with Ziraat Times, follows the findings of a three-member Enquiry Committee constituted to examine representations regarding discrepancies in the KCCI voter list. After scrutiny, the committee recommended rectifying errors, including the removal of dead voters from the rolls, to ensure a fair and transparent election process in line with the Articles of Association of KCCI.
The committee further advised that the Election Commission (EC) of KCCI must clearly mark invalid voters on polling day while ensuring that no eligible member is denied the right to vote and no ineligible person is allowed to cast a ballot. Strengthening the credibility of the voter list, the report noted, would help uphold the democratic sanctity of the election process.
Accordingly, the Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar has advised the Election Commission to make necessary corrections in the electoral rolls and to schedule the polls at the earliest feasible date, in accordance with the Association’s rules.
Meanwhile, controversy has arisen after several members declared ineligible by the KCCI were publicly named in newspapers. These members criticised the move, saying that publishing their names was “unnecessary and damaging,” and suggested that the Chamber should have instead communicated through letters or emails directly to the concerned firms.
The elections to the KCCI Executive Committee, seen as crucial for the business community of the Valley, are expected to be rescheduled once the authentication of the membership list is completed.
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