Andhra Pradesh Government Pledges Swift Appointment of State Election Commissioner
The Andhra Pradesh state government officially informed the High Court on Tuesday that the appointment of the State Election Commissioner (SEC) will be finalized within the next week. The government emphasized its intention to conduct elections for local bodies at the earliest possible opportunity, addressing a critical administrative timeline.
Advocate General Outlines Procedural Steps and Governor's Role
Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas presented the government's position before the High Court, clarifying that the official file for the SEC appointment is currently with the Governor, who holds the constitutional authority to make this appointment. This procedural update came in response to multiple petitions filed with the court, each raising distinct concerns regarding the electoral process.
Diverse Petitions Highlight Complex Electoral Concerns
A series of petitions have been submitted to the High Court, reflecting varied perspectives on the upcoming elections. Kesana Shankar Rao, President of the AP BC Association, formally requested that elections be held only after the completion of a comprehensive Backward Classes (BC) census and the subsequent determination of reservation percentages. In a separate Public Interest Litigation (PIL), Advocate Thandava Yogesh sought judicial directions to initiate the election process immediately, citing the impending completion of the current local bodies' terms. Additionally, several sarpanches have filed petitions seeking an extension of their tenures until new elections are conducted.
Government Assures Expedited Election Preparations and BC Census Progress
Advocate General Srinivas assured the High Court that the state government is actively working to hold local body elections as expeditiously as possible. He provided specific updates on key preparatory measures:
- The planning department has successfully collected data covering 99.44% of the BC population, with the entire census process expected to be completed within ten days.
- A dedicated commission, led by former IAS officer Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, has already commenced its work to assess the backwardness of various castes and recommend appropriate reservation quotas.
- Following the recent expiration of panchayat terms, the state government has appointed 5,770 special officers to oversee daily activities across 13,096 panchayats, ensuring administrative continuity.
The Advocate General requested additional time to submit a detailed affidavit outlining all steps being taken by the government.
Legal Arguments Emphasize Timeliness and Census Clarity
During the proceedings, Advocate Thandava Yogesh argued that the state government should have initiated the election process well in advance of the panchayats' term completion, in strict adherence to Supreme Court directives. Representing Kesana Shankar Rao, Senior Counsel A Satya Prasad raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the BC census in the Government Order that established the dedicated commission. He reminded the court of its previous directive mandating the state government to conduct a BC census to inform reservation decisions.
High Court Schedules Further Hearing and Seeks Detailed Affidavit
After carefully considering arguments from all parties, the High Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 16. The court instructed the Advocate General to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the government's actions and plans, ensuring transparency and accountability in the lead-up to the elections.
