SIR exercise put on hold in J&K; Election Commission to notify dates separately

Jammu, May 14 -- The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 states and three Union Territories, beginning May 20, but deferred the schedule for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.

With the poll panel deciding to notify the programme for these three regions at a later date, it is now almost certain that the large-scale voter roll revision exercise will not commence in Jammu and Kashmir this month.

The ECI said the schedule for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh would be announced after taking into account the completion of Phase-II of the Census and weather conditions in upper and snow-bound areas.

"The SIR schedule ...