Date:12/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/12/stories/2003081203001300.htm

National

Defer creation of new districts, EC tells M.P. Govt.

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 11. The Election Commission has directed the Madhya Pradesh Government to defer its decision to create five new districts in the State, as such reorganisation would seriously jeopardise the arrangements being made for the conduct of Assembly elections.

In a letter to the Government, the Commission said that as the State Assembly was coming to an end shortly and elections had to be held soon arrangements were being made for the conduct of free, fair and smooth polls. The Commission and the entire State election machinery were, therefore, in active election mode.

"The Commission is of the considered view that any reorganisation of the districts so as to create new districts at this late juncture would seriously hamper the working of the Election Commission and the election machinery in the field,'' the letter said. It pointed out that electoral rolls were at present being prepared, maintained and stored district-wise and issuing of photo identity cards had started afresh in all the districts recently. Creation of new districts would require changes in the software and computer programme for the generation of photo identity cards in the new as well as the earlier districts affected by the reorganisation.

Electronic voting machines have been allocated district-wise and training was on as per the existing administrative set-up.

In addition, creation of new districts would seriously dislocate the work of setting up polling stations and appointment of polling parties which had been set in motion, the letter said, while directing the State Government to defer its proposal.