Big blow for Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy as HC quashes ordinance, reinstates SEC

A division bench of Andhra Presh High Court comprising Chief Justice JK Maheshwari and M Satyanarayana Murthy on Friday, May 29, quashed ordinance issued by AP government curtailing tenure of  State Election Commissioner and ordered reinstatement of Nimmagda Ramesh Kumar as SEC. This is being perceived as a major setback for Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as he h publicly described Kumar as casteist and inclined towards Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party. Prouncing its verdict on 13 petitions challenging Kumar's removal, bench ruled that state government did t have power to issue an ordinance under Section 213 of Constitution.

Thus, all government orders brought under it have become invalid. Moreover, court set aside appointment of V Kanagaraj as SEC. Subsequently, Kumar has assumed charge as SEC once again. 

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Postponement of local body polls irks AP CM

controversy was sparked off with Kumar's decision to postpone local body polls scheduled on March 21 and March 23 in state citing COVID-19 crisis. However, AP CM slammed SEC's move and alleged that he was acting at behest of Leer of Opposition Chandrababu Naidu. According to Jagan Mohan Reddy, Naidu was unable to digest fact that YSR Congress Party was heing to sweep elections. reafter, he met AP Goverr to complain against SEC.

AP government brought in an ordinance on April 10 to reduce tenure of SEC from 5 to three years, ending term of Kumar who was appointed in 2016. Retired Mras High Court judge V Kanagaraj was appointed as new CEC. However, AP High Court and apex court h upheld decision to postpone elections because of vel coronavirus pandemic. Currently, re are 3,251 confirmed vel coronavirus cases out of which 2,125 patients have been discharged while 59 deaths have been reported. 

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