The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued key directions to Andhra Pradesh’s State Election Commission on municipal elections underway in the state, ordering that the deadline for the final list of nominations filed be extended until October 25.
The orders came in response to developments in the conduct of the municipal polls and the nomination process. The YSR Congress Party had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the nomination deadline.
Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohan took up the petition for hearing. Senior advocates Siddharth Luthra and Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the Andhra Pradesh government.
The court heard on Wednesday allegations and requests that candidates were being prevented from filing nominations.
It directed the commission to take steps to extend time for candidates who had been unable to file nominations and said they must be given at least 48 hours to enter the contest.
The Supreme Court made clear that the State Election Commission must decide by October 22 what action to take for those who could not file nominations.
The directions from the bench in New Delhi bind the State Election Commission in Amaravati to adjust the municipal election timetable so the final nominations list can run through October 25 rather than an earlier cut-off. Candidates across Andhra Pradesh who missed the window to submit papers are directly affected by the 48-hour minimum the court prescribed for them to join the race.
YSR Congress moved the top court after disputes over how nominations were being handled during polls already in motion in the state. The Andhra Pradesh government placed senior counsel before the two-judge bench while the court worked through the party’s plea and the representations tied to blocked filings.
By October 22 the commission must set out what it will do for each aspirant who could not file, while the extended October 25 date governs when the consolidated list of nominations filed is due.
