The Indian stamp paper meant for an affidavit is a valid legal document in any part of India, but not in Jammu and Kashmir.
The returning officer of Bandipora rejected the nomination papers filed by a Kashmiri undertrial in Delhi's Tihar Jail on the grounds that the Indian stamp paper on which he had used is legally invalid in the state.
The undertrial, Mohammad Iqbal Jan, is a candidate of the Panthers Party, of Professor Bhim Singh, a Supreme Court lawyer from Jammu known for his legal battles in courts against unlawful detentions of Pakistani nationals in Indian prisons.
His lawyers say since Iqbal Jan had filed his papers from Delhi, he had no option but to use the Indian stamp paper as the J&K stamp papers are not available in Delhi. His case has been referred to the chief electoral officer, who is still undecided on whether to allow him to contest.
Iqbal Jan's family knows he can not win, however, they agreed to field him in the hope that his case and "illegal detention" may get highlighted in the course of the election campaign.
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