Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has welcomed the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said the court’s intervention could help examine the basis for removing names from voter lists.
Abdullah also questioned the manner in which the BJP-led governments are pursuing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He said such a law should be debated in Parliament before governments implement it separately.
Omar Welcomes Supreme Court Scrutiny
Abdullah said it was a positive development that the Supreme Court had raised questions about voter deletions. The court has sought responses from the Election Commission and the Centre on the issue.
The J&K chief minister said it remains to be seen how far the court’s intervention will help correct the situation.
He also said the INDIA bloc would continue its campaign over electoral roll concerns. Opposition MPs recently marched towards the Election Commission in Delhi as part of the campaign.
Concerns Over Deleted Voter Names
The dispute centres on the deletion of names from electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have questioned the process and sought greater transparency.
The Election Commission has maintained that electoral roll revisions are intended to keep voter lists accurate. Such exercises can identify duplicate entries, deceased voters and people who have shifted from their registered constituencies.
Abdullah said the Supreme Court’s intervention could provide greater clarity on the reasons behind the deletions.
Omar Questions BJP’s UCC Approach
Abdullah also spoke about the Uniform Civil Code. He ruled out implementing the UCC in Jammu and Kashmir under the current approach.
He argued that a law intended to apply across India should be debated at the national level. According to Abdullah, the issue should come before Parliament for discussion and consideration.
He questioned why different state governments were approaching the issue separately instead of pursuing a common national framework.
‘Bring the Law to Parliament’
Abdullah said the Centre should introduce legislation in Parliament if it wants a nationwide UCC. He argued that Parliament should debate the proposal before states adopt different versions.
His comments come amid different positions among state governments on the UCC. Some states have moved towards implementation, while others have opposed or questioned the approach.
The debate has therefore raised wider questions about the scope of state-level action and the possibility of a common national framework.
INDIA Bloc to Continue Electoral Campaign
The J&K chief minister also backed the INDIA bloc’s continuing campaign over electoral rolls. He said the opposition had prepared a programme of protests and political activities around the issue.
The campaign has focused on alleged voter deletions and questions about the electoral revision process.
The Supreme Court’s decision to seek responses from the Election Commission and the Centre has added a judicial dimension to the political dispute.
Electoral Rolls and UCC Remain Key Issues
Abdullah’s comments bring together two separate national debates. One concerns the integrity and revision of electoral rolls. The other involves the proposed Uniform Civil Code and how it should be legislated.
His remarks show the J&K government’s position on both issues. He has welcomed judicial scrutiny of voter deletions while arguing that the UCC requires parliamentary debate.
Both issues are likely to remain part of political discussions as the Supreme Court considers the voter-roll matter and governments continue to debate the future of the UCC.