JC likely to recommend names for returning officers today

KATHMANDU, Aug 29: Following the request of the Election Commission (EC), the Judicial Council (JC) is likely to recommend names for appointment as chief returning officers and returning officers for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election on Friday.



According to sources privy to the development, JC has called a meeting for Friday to discuss the issue. “Tomorrow´s (Friday) meeting will most likely recommend the names of chief district judges and judges, among other officials from the judicial service, for appointment as chief returning officers and returning officers,” sources told Republica on condition of anonymity. [break]



An informal meeting of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) held in the capital on Thursday also maintained that names of chief district judges and judges, among others, should be recommended to EC at the earliest.



JSC is also responsible for recommending names for appointing chief returning officers and returning officers for the CA polls.

Sources said Friday´s meeting of JC will pick names of 250 chief district judges and judges, among other officials, from judicial services for appointing chief returning officers and returning officers.



Though only 240 officials are required for 240 election constituencies under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, EC has requested JC and JSC to recommend additional 10 names for contingency purpose.



Talking to Republica Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said EC will appoint chief returning officers and returning officers by September 7.

“They [chief returning officers and returning officers] will be fielded by the last week of Bhadra [September 15] after being trained as nominations will begin from September 23,” added the chief election commissioner.



According to Uprety, the commission will conduct training for the chief returning officers and returning officers in all five development regions.

EC had also urged JSC and JC through the Ministry of Law and Justice last week to recommend names of chief district judges, among others, for appointment as chief returning officers and returning officers.



EC appoints one chief district judge as the chief returning officer in each district while additional district judges and under secretary level officials from judicial services are appointed as returning officers for first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system.

Chief returning officers and returning officers oversee all election related activities in the election constituencies.

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