Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Services (JKPSC)

• 05 Sep 2024

Exit Polls Banned

Why in News? 

Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notification banning the release of exit polls for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Points 

• Exit polls are banned from being conducted or published from 7:00 AM on September 18, 2024, to 6:30 PM on October 5, 2024.
  • An exit poll is conducted immediately after people have voted, and assesses the support for political parties and their candidates.
• The move is a standard procedure to ensure fairness and prevent exit polls from influencing voter behavior during the election process.
  • The ban is based on Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which prohibits the conducting, publishing, or publicizing of exit polls.
•  Exit poll results can be published 30 minutes after the last vote is cast.
• Under Section 126(1)(b) of the RP Act, 1951, displaying any election-related material, including opinion polls, is prohibited during the 48 hours before the end of polling.
  • An opinion poll is a pre-election survey to gather voters’ views on a range of election-related issues.

Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950

• Key Provisions:
  • Lays down procedures for delimitation of constituencies.
  • Provides for the allocation of seats in the House of the People and in the Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of States.
  • Lays procedure for the preparation of electoral rolls and the manner of filling seats.
  • Lays down the qualification of voters.
    

Representation of the People Act (RPA),1951

• Key Provisions:
  • It regulates the actual conduct of elections and by-elections.
  • It provides administrative machinery for conducting elections.
  • It deals with the registration of political parties.
  • It specifies the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the Houses.
  • It provides provisions to curb corrupt practices and other offences.
  • It lays down the procedure for settling doubts and disputes arising out of elections.

Rise in Militancy in Jammu

Why in News? 

The Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has witnessed a notable increase in militant attacks since mid-2021, culminating in recent incidents including the ambush on Army vehicles in Kathua district and targeted strikes in other areas

Key Points

• Reasons for Rise in Militancy in Jammu: 
  • Strategic Shift: The pursuance of zero terror policy in Kashmir have provided militants to an opportunity to operate in Jammu.
  • In 2020, perceived low militancy in Jammu led to troop movements to Ladakh (along LAC after the Galwan Accident), potentially prompting militants to relocate.
• Strategic Importance of Jammu: Jammu serves as a crucial gateway to the rest of India, making it an attractive target for militants aiming to disrupt normalcy and create fear.
• Geostrategic Considerations: The proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) provides militants easier access from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, facilitating infiltration and logistics support. 
• Economic Disparities: Lack of economic opportunity and development in remote and border areas of Jammu create fertile ground for recruitment of local youths by militant groups.
• Lack of Human Intelligence:  The locals who provided information decades ago are now in their 60s or 70s, and the security forces have not nurtured relations with younger generations, highlighting a gap in human intelligence gathering.

Note:

• Terrorism: Terrorism under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2012, involves using violence or threats to create fear for political, ideological, or extremist aims, impacting national or global security.
• Militancy: Militancy refers to a readiness to use violence or combativeness, encompassing various groups or individuals including armed religious factions, often used interchangeably with terrorism but suggesting a potentially less extreme level of violent expression compared to terrorism.