Gen Sinha favours All India Eection Service for J

Srinagar, May 15 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today favoured an All India Election Service to ensure greater independence and objectivity of the electoral functioning, saying it will be good for the poll process in the country.

Inaugurating the fifth All India State Election Commissioners Conference here this morning, the Governor put forth his personal views on further streamlining the electoral process and sought a mechanism to evolve a curb on communal and castiest forces polarising the nation during the polls.

Gen singh favoured conducting panchayat and local bodies polls in the country on non-party basis, saying integrity, character and merit of contestants rather than their party should become the determining factor.

He also urged for creation of All India Election Service officers which could serve as Chief Electoral Officers in states and as staff of the Election Commission of India and also the state Election Commissions.

The Governor called for bringing Jammu and Kashmir at par with the rest of the country vis-a-vis appointment of State Election Commissioner.

Gen Sinha also expressed the hope that Jammu and Kashmir would adopt the All India pattern and approve appointment of a State Election Commissioner.

UNI AG RL HS1940