A day after making some serious comments against former chief secretary Neelam Sawhney, the Andhra Pradesh state high court on Saturday admitted a writ petition challenging her appointment as the state election commissioner (SEC).
The petition was filed by one R Mahesh, who contended that the appointment of Neelam Sawhney was done in violation of the Supreme Court guidelines.
The high court, which admitted the petition, served notices on the state government which was named as the respondent in the case.
It was only on Friday that the state high court found fault with the SEC for interpreting the Supreme Court judgement in her own way and concluded that the four weeks’ time prescribed in the order is outer limit, thereby the State Election Commissioner can reduce it.
“Such interpretation by misreading or misunderstanding of the order is totally misplaced and it is nothing but purposive interpretation. Even a common man who can read, write and understand the English language can easily find out the direction issued by the Supreme Court in the order,” the judge said.
However, Neelam Sawhney, who worked as Chief Secretary to the State being a senior most retired IAS Officer, could not understand the simple direction issued by the Supreme Court in right perspective, which creates doubt as to her suitability and fitness to the post of Election Commissioner, the judge said.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu also demanded that Neelam should not be allowed to continue in the post, after the court’s comments.
“Neelam worked as Chief Secretary and also as Advisor for Mr. Jagan before becoming AP State Election Commissioner. But she had brazenly misinterpreted and violated the Supreme Court's order,” he criticised.