Supreme Court Stays Local Body Elections G.O.

Supreme Court has issued a Stay on the G.O. of the Local Body Elections in Andhra Pradesh. The Apex court directed Andhra Pradesh High Court to finish the case proceedings in four weeks’ time. Andhra Pradesh Government had issued a G.O. prescribing 59.85% Reservations in the Panchayat Elections.

A couple of people have approached the Supreme Court saying that the Reservations should not cross 50% according to the constitution. Finding Prima Facie merit in their argument, the Apex court stayed the G.O. Number 176. The court directed the High Court to finish the proceedings of various writ petitions pending in four weeks.

The State Election Commission is gearing up to issue notification for these elections after Sankranthi but now the process is held up. The opposition claims that the Government intentionally tried to delay the elections with impractical Reservations Policy, fearing adverse results.

Earlier, Supreme Court in various cases clarified that the reservations cannot be more than 50%. If Andhra Pradesh Government is serious it should convince the Center to place it in Section 9 of the constitution to make it immune from Judicial Interference which is practically impossible.