Special observers for J&K meet CEC, briefed on role

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Special central observers Noor Mohammad, Vinod Zutshi and A.S. Gill, appointed by the Election Commission to assess the situation in Jammu and Kashmir for holding assembly elections, on Tuesday met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra here.

Arora requested the three, whose appointment he had announced while releasing the Lok Sabha poll schedule on Sunday, to visit the state at the earliest, a suggestion which they accepted.

Lavasa and Chandra also briefed them during the interactive session which lasted for almost two hours.

Deputy Election Commissioner-in-charge of the state Sandeep Saxena briefed them about preparedness for elections in Jammu and Kashmir and gave other details regarding the state.

The Commission discussed with them about their roles and responsibilities.

The three central observers would be required to visit the state and make a real time assessment of the situation by meeting political parties, district and state authorities and other stakeholders.

An Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1977 batch, Mohammad is a former Secretary to the Central government and has worked more than a decade in the fields of election management as Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Election Commissioner in the EC, and international expert and consultant on election in Afghanistan for many years.

Zutshi, a 1982 batch IAS officer, was also Secretary to the central government and also has wide experience for more than a decade in elections at the state level as CEO, Rajasthan and Deputy Election Commissioner for more than five years.

A 1972 batch Indian Police Service officer, Gill has wide experience in field of security management in difficult areas. Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force in Jammu and Kashmir between 1995-97, he retired as the paramilitary force's chief.