AP High Court orders AG to write letter to SEC over govt. objections to hold Local Body Elections

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday has given key directions on the conduction of election for local bodies in the state. The High Court directed the government to write a letter to the Election Commission on the issue of postponement of elections due to coronavirus. The court said SEC will consider the government's request and also opined that coronavirus vaccination and local body elections are relevant to the people.

The High Court directed that three officers be sent to the SEC and then the SEC will announce its decision on the conduction of the election. However, the orders will be issued on the 29th of this month in this regard. As the SEC prepares to hold elections in February, it is learned that the government has filed a petition in the high court challenging the decision. The petition was heard on Wednesday.

SEC lawyer Ashwini Kumar told the high court that they would abide by the Centre's schedule for corona vaccination during Tuesday's hearing while the government lawyers have argued that the Center will start the corona vaccination process. Responding to this, the lawyer for SEC said that the center had not released the vaccination schedule. Asked by the judge whether the they would follow the schedule, the SEC counsel replied that it would be followed properly.