Assam: Uncertainty looms over Panchayat polls ?
Guwahati, Mar 22 (IBNS): Uncertainty looms over Panchayat elections in Assam after Deputy Commissioners of 11 districts sent a letter to the state election commission and said that it is impossible to hold the polls as maximum government officials are engaged with the updating process of National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Deputy Commissioners of the 11 districts said in their letters sent to the state election commission that the Supreme Court had directed that, the work of holding the elections will not be at the cost of upgradation, preparation of the NRC and NRC updation works will continue as before with full deployment of manpower as on date.
"The apex court has directed to maintain the level of manpower already deployed for NRC works and ensure that they are not disturbed from NRC update works till publication of complete Draft NRC within stipulated timelines. The officers who have been already engaged for the updation process of the NRC cannot be engaged for the conduct of any election till completion of the NRC works," said in a letter sent by the Nalbari district Deputy Commissioner.
On the other hand, a top official of Barpeta district said that, the State Coordinator of NRC had reiterated that contempt proceeding will be initiated against the officers, who have already been engaged for the updation of NRC also perform election duties, as it will slow down the progress of the work of updation of NRC.
The government official further said that, NRC updation work is a time bound programme and it is being monitored by the Supreme court.
The Deputy Commissioners of Nalbari, Barpeta, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Morigaon, Darrang, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Karimganj, Hailakandi districts have also sent letter to the Chief Secretary of Assam government and sought an intervention over the issue.
Over 90 per cent government officials are engaged in the NRC updation process going on across the state.
After publishing the first partial draft of NRC on December 31 midnight by including 1.90 crore people, the Supreme Court directed the NRC authority to publish the full draft by June 30 next.
Meanwhile, state election commissioner H N Bora said that, the state election commission has taken the issue very seriously and will file a petition before the Supreme Court shortly for seeking intervention from the apex court.
The Assam state election commission has prepared to hold the panchayat polls in the state between April last and first part of the month of May.
The state government has also sanctioned Rs 145 crore to conduct the panchayat elections.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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