Srinagar, Aug 17: The Panchayat election in Halqa Gadhtar in Doda district has been marred by controversy with one of the candidate raising objections over the voter list. 
 The election for Panchs and Sarpanchs was held on June 2. After result, Subash Chander was declared winner as Panch. However, the opposite candidate, Muhammad Hussain Lone raised objections. “After I was declared unsuccessful by two votes I checked out the voter list. I found some names common in two Panchayat Halqas (Gandhtar and Malwana West)”, Lone said.
 As per the voter lists, the copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, the Halqa Gandhtar consist of 139 votes while Malwana has 120 registered voters. However, there are five members common in both the Halqas. The names of Manzoor Ahmad son of Abdul Rehman, Hajra Begum wife of Abdul Rehman, Kulsuma Bano daughter of Abdul Rehman and Abdul Latief son of Muhammad Latief are shown in both the lists. 
 Lone said the ‘fraudulent list’ reduced the possibility of his win. “There are two underage voters also in the lists that are shown as adults”, he alleged.
 According to him, Pooja Devi daughter of Mool Raj and Des Raj son of Daulat Ram are “below” the age of 18 years. “But in the list they are shown as adults with age group 18 and 20 respectively.”
 “When I raised objections about the voting list, nobody heeded,” Lone alleged. “It’s inexplicable as to how one person is having the votes in two Panchayats.”
 “It is a simple violation of Panchayat Election Rules”, he alleged.
 The appellate authority, however, said the objection had been raised at an inappropriate time. “Under Panchayat Raj Act there are clear guidelines that no objection can be entertained after the date of filling of nominations still I looked at different aspects of the petition,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner Doda Atta-ur-Rehman Natloo who is also an Appellate Authority under Panchayati Raj Act. “Even Election Commissioner cannot make changes in the voter list after last date of filling of nominations.”
 Meanwhile, the appeal of Muhammad Hussain has been rejected by the appellate authority on Wednesday.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir Natloo said the decision was taken on the grounds: the appellant couldn’t prove ‘the voters mentioned in two Halqas caste their votes in both and there were underage voters. “The burden of proof lies with the appellant, but he couldn’t prove any of his objections so there was no ground in entertaining his appeal”, he said.
 Natloo said the petitioner had presented various evidences before him and he has prepared a judgment ‘considering all circumstances which stands for rejection of appeal’.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST