SC Upholds Postponing Of AP Local Body Elections

The Supreme Court today upheld the decision of the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to postpone the civic body elections by six weeks (in view of the coronavirus).

However, the court at the same time asked the SEC to lift the Model Code of Conduct in the state immediately so that the government can go ahead with its welfare schemes and programmes.

The apex court issued the directions after hearing the plea filed by the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday challenging the State Election Commission's order postponing elections to the rural and urban local bodies by six weeks.

The court categorically stated that the decision of the SEC in regard to elections was final and that it (the court) could not interfere with it.

The government had in its petition urged the court to cancel the SEC's order, and brought to the court's notice that the Model Code of Conduct, which continued in the state in the wake of the postponement of the elections, was hindering the welfare schemes undertaken by it (the government).