HC issues contempt notice to Ladakh Govt on NC election symbol issue

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: High Court today issued notice to Government of Ladakh through its Chief Secretary to the contempt petition filed by the National Conference (NC) for not issuing election symbol ‘plough’ despite court orders for the party for contesting the upcoming Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
The notice has been issued by Justice Sindhu Sharma after the counsel for the party filed a contempt petition and submitted that despite court orders the election symbol has not been issued as such nomination papers were not entertained by the concerned authority.
The court last week while entertaining the plea of NC had directed the office of the Chief Secretary and District election Officer Kargil to notify the symbol allotted to the petitioner-party and allow its candidates to contest on the reserved election symbol ‘plough’ already allotted to it.
Court for this purpose had directed the petitioner-party to approach the office of the Chief Secretary Ladakh UT, District Election Officer Kargil and Administrative secretary election department for notifying the reserved symbol (Plough) already allotted to it.
The direction passed by the writ court was challenged by the Ladakh Government in an appeal but the same came to be dismissed by the division bench on August 16 by upholding the writ court direction.