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NC files writ against EC order

The National Conference has challenged in the Supreme Court the Election Commission's order to advance the counting of votes for the 12th Lok Sabha election from March 8 to March 2.

NC spokesman and Union Environment and Forests Minister Saifuddin Soz has filed a writ petition to this effect.

In the petition, the party contends that the EC did not consult the Jammu and Kashmir government or any regional party while deciding the date. Several political parties, it said, had demanded to be consulted.

The NC prayed that either the election in the three Parliamentary constituencies -- Anantnag, Baramulla and Udhampur -- be advanced from March 7, or the counting for 543 seats be held only on March 8, as the EC announced in its earlier schedule.

Saying that the advancement would have an adverse effect on these three constituencies, Soz said the NC had pleaded several times with the Commission against the decision. The NC's plea was supported by the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party. The last plea to this effect was rejected a few days ago by the EC, he added.

Eminent Constitutional lawyer Fali S Nariman and senior counsel Rajinder Sachar will argue the case, Soz said.

UNI

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