Who will be at the helm of affairs to conduct the Muncipal polls in AP? This was the question to the Andhra Pradesh government by the High court.
Getting into details, the Andhra Pradesh government recently brought a controversial ordinance. This was aimed to get rid of Ramesh Kumar as the State Eclection Commision Chairman, following his decission to postpone the local body elections.
In this background Ramesh Kumar Approached the High Court claiming that the government had malafide intentions in his removal from the post.
In this context, the case came to hearing on Monday. The Government defended its actions by saying that it got the ordinance by amending the Panchayat Raj Act. The intention was only to bring reforms in the state election commission.
After hearing to the argument the high court asked the government, If Ramesh Kumar was removed by changing the Panchayat Raj Act, Will he still be the SEC for conducting the municipal polls, as the Muncipal Act is not amended yet.
Also the court asked if the Government is planning to have the SEC tenure as three years based on the Panchayat Raj Act and five years based on the Muncipal Act.
It directed the state government to clarify its position and adjourned the arguments to Tuesday. It will be interesting to see the government’s response.