The Supreme Court has instructed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) to decide by October 22 whether to extend the nomination deadline for urban local body elections.
This directive comes after allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nominations due to law and order issues.
A vacation bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also ordered the APSEC to postpone the final candidate list publication until October 25. The commission is tasked with examining complaints of violence, obstruction, and reviewing electronic evidence by Thursday. If the deadline is extended, candidates must be given at least 48 hours from the decision’s announcement to file their papers.
The court emphasized that free and fair elections are fundamental to the Constitution’s basic structure and the right to file nominations is crucial. It highlighted that constitutional courts must intervene to safeguard electoral fairness when necessary. The Director General of Police has been directed to ensure police protection for candidates and CCTV coverage at nomination centers, with a compliance report expected from the poll panel and the State by October 27.
This ruling follows a plea from the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), which challenged the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s refusal to extend the nomination deadline. The YSRCP alleged widespread violence and intimidation, particularly in areas like Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa, and Tirupati, preventing its candidates from submitting their papers. The party claimed nearly 63 percent of candidates faced such obstacles, with senior advocate Maninder Singh presenting videos of nomination papers being torn. The State and the SEC, represented by senior advocates Siddharth Luthra and Mukul Rohatgi, opposed the plea, alleging the petitioner itself instigated violence. However, the Supreme Court found a prima facie case for intervention.