Lift ban on Model Code of Conduct: Supreme Court to Andhra Pradesh EC

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court has directed the State Election Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh to lift the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) till the announcement of the election date and has said that the all the developmental activities already initiated and continuing shall not be interrupted by the State Election Commission (SEC). The Court took objection to the SEC postponing the elections on the one hand and stating that the MCC will be in force.

The Supreme Court has directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) to lift the ban on the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). During the arguments on Wednesday, in the Supreme Court, the ASG (Additional Solicitor General) A Nadkarni, on behalf of the GoAP has contended that the State Election Commissioner has passed a curious order postponing the elections and that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will be in force.

There was no prior consultation with the Government, and if there had been any consultation, we would have apprised the SEC of the fact situation and that the State is ready for elections. ASG pointed out that it is really curious that the Chief Election Commissioner is on caveat and opposing the writ petition filed by the State, which clearly indicates that the SEC is taking a political line. “ He wants to cripple the government functioning by taking political sides,” the ASG observed.

The Judge said, MUST BE!! Why did the situation come to this? When the SEC noted that once the election notification is issued ‘’I can’t let the Government (to carry out) any activity it wants and the code will be in force the elections are closed. The Court asked how you can have both sides. You want to postpone the elections and also have a model code of conduct. You want to bring the State to a standstill. The ASG pointed out that this is a ploy and political lines are drawn, and they want the Government to stop functioning.

The SEC contended that there is an attempt to distribute freebies which will affect the purity of the election. To which the State has contended that political lines are already drawn. Why should the SEC contest the developmental programmes of the State? Then the Court said that the MCC be lifted and can be reimposed when the next date of elections is notified. There shall be no interference with any of the developmental activities already initiated, and the sec shall not interfere with that.