Soldiers of Rajasthan state serving in armed forces may miss the chance to vote as returning officers have failed to enlist them.
EC had previous given ordered to review the list of in-service soldiers in the state bt despite orders from the Election Commission officials are yet to initiate action on it.
‘Justice for Jawans’, a Pune-based NGO run by veteran Army men, alleged that district officials are not showing any interest in enlisting on-duty soldiers. “In his communication to the returning officers, chief electoral officer Ashok Jain had asked officials to ensure that soldiers and their families get every opportunity to vote in the assembly polls. This letter was even forwarded to the Chief of the Army Staff. But no initiative has been taken so far to enlist the names of in-service officers,” said Lt Col (retd) J S Lamba, Rajasthan in-charge of the NGO.
As per the existing practice, soon after the nominations are finalized, the EC sends ballot papers to the units. The commanding officers then hand it over to soldiers who after voting submit it to their unit. However, the process is long and cumbersome.
The NGO raised the new demand pointing out the ‘ineffectiveness’ of the existing practice of providing postal ballot papers that almost deprives soldiers of participation in the electoral process.
The NGO members also met Jaipur-based South Western Command’s GOC-in-C Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan and chief electoral officer Ashok Jain.
“Process should be swift so that serving officers can cast their vote at the place of their posting. It is necessary to have their say in the electoral process for the effective governance,” added Lamba.
EC officials however said that the process of sending ballot papers has been initiated. “Names of officers and their commanding units have been listed and as soon as the names are finalized we will dispatch the ballot papers” said a senior official of the EC.
src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/24957670.cms