Supreme Court orders Andhra govt to seek permission from SEC for development works

The Supreme Court on Monday heard a petition seeking to amend the directions given over Andhra Pradesh local body elections. Has the Election Commission stopped any development work? Chief Justice Bobde questioned the AP government. It is learnt that the state election commission has postponed the local body elections in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Supreme Court clarified that the AP government to seek EC permission for development works. The AP government has filed a petition to amend it. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the state government.

He said the EC had not decided on when the next elections would be held, which was hampering development work. He told the court how EC would give permission when the Election Code was not in force. While Counsel for Election Commission argued that the election had not been cancelled instead postponed.

After hearing the arguments, the court directed the state government to apply to the EC for permission over development works. The court said that the petition should be filed if permission is not given and adjourned the hearing for four weeks.