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ECI, Centre contradict LG Murmu on JK polls, 4G data

Watsupptoday Report
Jammu | 28 July 2020

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday took exception to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) G.C. Murmu�s statement that Assembly elections would be held after delimitation. Such statements virtually tantamount to interfering with the ECI�s constitutional mandate, it said.
Issuing a statement in response to a media report quoting the LG on Tuesday as well as previously reported statements, the ECI said it �takes exception to such statements and would like to state that in the constitutional scheme of things, the timings etc. of elections is the sole remit of the Election Commission of India�.
The ECI said it considered all relevant information, including topography, weather and regional and local festivities, before deciding on the timing of elections.
�For example, in the current times, COVID-19 has introduced a new dynamic, which has to be and shall be taken into consideration at the due time. In the instant case, the outcome of delimitation is also germane to the decision. Similarly, availability of central forces and railway coaches, etc. for the transportation of CPFs are important factors. All this is done after meticulous homework by the senior officials of the Commission and a detailed assessment in due consultation with concerned authorities�, it stated.
The ECI noted that it visited the States concerned as required and consulted all stakeholders. �It would be proper for authorities other than the Election Commission of India to refrain from making such statements, which virtually tantamount to interfering with the constitutional mandate of the Commission�, the statement said.
On the other hand, Murmu�s recommendation has caused another stir as the Centre has been maintaining that the situation is not ripe to restore high-speed Internet i8n J&K
The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it would verify reports in the media quoting Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu saying 4G Internet speed should be restored in the Valley.
A Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana initially asked the J&K administration and the Centre to respond on August 5. However, the law officers expressed reluctance over the date, saying �the officers may not be available on August 5�.
It was on August 5 last year that the Centre abrogated the special rights enjoyed by the people of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution.
The court finally scheduled the next hearing for August 7.
Mr. Murmu�s reported recommendation caused a stir as the Centre has been maintaining, and even filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court, that the situation was not ripe to restore high speed Internet owing to heightened terror activities in J&K. It had agreed to review the situation again after two months.
The hearing began with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the J&K administration, straightaway asking for an adjournment. Mr. Mehta said he had received a rejoinder from the petitioner, Forum for Media Professionals, to the affidavit and needed time to respond.