Why local body elections cannot be held: AP HC to election commission

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday, issued notices to state election commission (SEC) to file a response on conducting local body elections in Andhra Pradesh. The AP government told the High Court that the local body elections were postponed because of prevailing Covid-19 pandemic

However, AP High Court has observed that when state assembly elections are being held in other states, why local body elections cannot be held in Andhra Pradesh. The High Court issued notices to SEC to file a reply on status of conducting election to the local bodies.

It may be recalled that On March 15, the then State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar issued a notification putting off the elections of MPTCs/ZPTCs and Urban Local Bodies for a period of six weeks or till the threat of COVID-19 recedes, whichever is earlier. The Supreme Court upheld the SEC''s decision when the state government challenged it.

In May 2020, the then state election commissioner Justice (retired) V Kanagaraj said after careful consideration of the judgments and also other relevant factors, the SEC decided to issue orders "withholding the election process of MPTCs/ZPTCs and Urban Local Bodies until further orders. The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission issued a notification putting off the elections to rural and urban local bodies indefinitely in view of the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown and also a judgment of the High Court.

Recently one advocate filed a petition in the High Court seeking the court to direct the AP government to conduct the local body elections. Hearing the petition, the AP High Court on Friday issued notices to SEC to file a reply on conducting the local body elections in the state. The next hearing on the case adjourned on November 2