Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar reinstated as Andhra State Election Commissioner
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 July 2020 4:35 AM GMT
Vijayawada: Signaling a thaw, Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday reinstated Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar as state election commissioner (SEC) after months of bitter legal battle.
On April 10, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy led Andhra Pradesh government had removed Ramesh Kumar from the post of SEC through an ordinance.
The tenure of the SEC was reduced from five to three years. The Andhra Pradesh government also appointed retired Judge V Kanagaraj as the new SEC of Andhra Pradesh
Based on the petition filed by Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, the AP High Court on May 29 struck down the Ordinance terming it unconstitutional. The court reinstated Ramesh Kumar as the SEC.
Later Andhra Pradesh's government filed a petition in Supreme Court challenging the High Court order,. The apex court while calling for responses from all concerned refused to grant a stay on the High Court judgment.
On July 24, the Supreme Court said it is "unfortunate" that Andhra Pradesh governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan had to intervene for implementation of the High Court order to reinstate Ramesh Kumar as SEC.
A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued a notice on an application seeking a stay on the contempt proceedings against the state government. Court asked senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Kumar to file an affidavit.
