Srinagar, Mar 15: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), B.R. Sharma on Tuesday directed all the deputy commissioners to ensure that code of conduct is being strictly adhered.
 To review and discuss the arrangements with regard to ensuing Panchayat Election-2011, onvened a high level meeting of all the Deputy Commissioners of various districts and Director Rural Development of the valley here today. The other officers connected with the elections also participated.
 Addressing the Deputy Commissioners, B.R. Sharma impressed upon them to strictly go ahead with Code of Conduct during the elections as prescribed by the Election Commission of India and ensure free, fair and impartial elections. He asked them anybody found disobeying the Code of Conduct will be himself responsible for the action under rules.
 Sharma said there would be 33 per cent reservation for Women in the Panchayat Elections and asked the Deputy Commissioners who are also District Election Officers (DEOs) to display the rules in this behalf at all the offices of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for the information of the public besides publishing the list in the print media.
 Sharma also urged upon them to ensure timely availability of election material including ballot boxes at all the polling booths including the staff deployed on duty. He said as many as 2519024 electorates will exercise their franchise in 15959 Panch constituencies of valley while in 2001 there were only 1859311 voters. Similarly, 2549951 electorates of Jammu province will caste their votes in 13760 Panch constituencies. He said about 32000 ballot boxes are required for conducting Panchayat elections in the state.
 The Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Director Rural Development and District Panchayat Officers of the valley attended the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST