Andhra HC suspends SEC schedule for Gram Panchayat polls, rules in favour of Jagan govt

Andhra Presh High Court on Monday suspended schedule anunced by State Election Commission (SEC) for conducting gram panchayat elections in four phases in February, observing it would hamper COVID-19 vaccination programme. Andhra Presh government on Saturday challenged SEC's decision to hold panchayat elections and also moved a 'House Motion petition' in High Court demanding that poll process be stalled, citing vaccination programme,to be taken up from January 16. SEC on Friday overruled objections raised by CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government and h anunced schedule for gram panchayat elections which would be held in 4 phases on February 5, 9, 13 and 17.

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High Court suspends  SEC orders "in interests of public health"

High Court observed that  gram panchayat elections would hamper coronavirus vaccination programme and, as such, suspended SEC orders "in interests of public health". " SEC has t objectively considered view of government and has approached subject matter in its own domain," a vacation bench of court said. 

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Earlier, Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary G K Dwivedi h said in a statement, " SEC has amantly anunced poll schedule without considering state governments views. It is a brazen display of arrogance of power."

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In a meeting, Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government h said officials that y were t rey to conduct elections as government machinery would be engd with ministration of Coronavirus vaccine for at least 8 months and due to this conducting an election would t be possible.

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Andhra Presh legislative Assembly h passed this resolution by suggesting that current COVID-19 situation is t conducive for state to conduct February 2021 elections amid COVID-19 pandemic. resolution passed by state Assembly demanded that EC should d certain legal provisions in Andhra Presh Panchayat Raj Act 1994 and successive rules to man public health issues should be introduced. 

(With PTI Inputs)