J&KHCBA defers its elections, new date to be announced after deliberations

Srinagar, Nov 10: Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (J&K HCBA) has decided to defer its elections and no new date has been fixed for the polls yet.

“We have decided to defer the elections. New date is yet to be fixed,” Election Commissioner of J&KHCBA, Advocate Mudasir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “New date will be announced after deliberations.”

The Bar elections were scheduled to be held today. However, in the meeting held in Srinagar, it was decided to defer the elections for some time.

The development close on the heels of a notice issued to J&K HCBA by the district magistrate Srinagar where in it was asked to clarify its stand whether it sees Kashmir as “a dispute or an integral part of the country.”

Yesterday, a notice sent to the Bar Association read that Jammu and Kashmir HCBA has reportedly circulated a press note convening election for various office bearers of association at Srinagar on November 10. “The JKHCBA Srinagar constitute states the following as its first objective: to find ways and means take steps for resolving the issues concerning public at large including larger issues of peaceful settlement of Kashmir dispute and for this purpose organize seminars, conventions, delegate its members to various places within and outside India to become members of other associations, bodies or forums which share common outlook with the associates,” the notice issued to the J&KHCBA had read.

“You are required to explain your position on the subject, since its not in the consonance with the Constitution of India, whereby J&K is an integral part of the country and not a dispute; and also in conflict with the advocates act 1961 which governs the subject vis-à-vis administrative legal points.” (KNO)