SC declines plea to put on hold Kashmir poll

The Supreme Court Monday declined a plea by Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference to put on hold the elections to the state assembly, as the party contended that a large number of people displaced on account of recent devastating floods will not able to exercise their franchise.

"Sorry," said the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu as it declined to accept senior counsel Rajiv Dhawan's plea that eight lakh people, even within Srinagar, are displaced and there was no school building to hold the elections as is generally done.

"They are not ready for relief, but they say they are ready for elections. They don't have manpower to carry out relief operation," Dhawan said, pointing to the gravity of the situation.