MUMBAI: In Andhra Pradesh local body elections matter, the Supreme Court's Special vacation bench on Wednesday has asked the AP election body to consider the complaints of YSRCP and other candidates over being prevented from filing nomination papers.
The top court's Special Vacation bench, headed by Justice Joymalya Bagchi and also comprising Justice V Mohana passed the interim direction on a plea filed by YSRCP and other candidates -- who moved the SC -- alleging that they were prevented from filing nomination papers by force and intimidation.
The petitioners said many candidates of YSRCP and other parties could not file nomination papers as they were stopped from entering election offices and nomination papers were not accepted.
Hearing these submissions, the top court asked the AP State Election Commission to consider complaints and take decision as per law to ensure fairness.
The court said election commission is custodian of free and fair elections and must examine allegations of prevention from filing nominations seriously.
It disposed plea with direction to SEC to consider complaints of YSRCP and other candidates.
The bench directed the AP State Election Commission to take a decision by tomorrow on YSRCP's plea to extend the nomination deadline for Urban Local Body Elections wherever candidates where allegedly prevented from filing nominations due to violence.
It also asked the APSEC not to publish the final list of candidates today (due date), and to defer it till October 25.
The court also ordered the Director General of Police to ensure necessary protection to candidates, police bandobast and CCTV coverage at nomination centres. The principal opposition party in the State had approached the Court after the High Court refused to direct the extension of the nomination deadline.
The matter will be considered on October 27, when the SEC and the State have will file their detailed compliance affidavits in this regard.
