Former state election commissioner of Andhra Pradesh Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar will have to wait for some more time to know his fate with regard to his removal from the post by the YSR Congress government through an ordinance.
The Andhra Pradesh state high court on Monday deferred further hearing on Ramesh Kumar’s petition to next week, after hearing to the arguments and counter arguments between his lawyers and the state advocate general.
Ramesh Kumar submitted a counter-affidavit to the high court over the state government’s affidavit justifying his removal from the SEC post.
The advocate general argued that Ramesh Kumar was not sacked but had lost his post following the government’s decision to bring in reforms in the AP Panchayat Raj Act.
He said the ordinance was not brought in against Ramesh Kumar but was part of the overall exercise of the government to overhaul the PR system and also to appoint a person of high court judge rank as the SEC.
Ramesh Kumar explained in detail how he was threatened and intimidated by the ruling party, right from chief minister to the party leaders, for postponing the local body elections on account of Coronavirus threat. He was forced to seek protection from the Centre after he received threatening calls.
During the course of hearings, the advocate general said he would file an additional counter and the high court gave him time till April 24. The court also asked Ramesh Kumar to file any objections on this additional counter by April 27.
The next hearing is posted to April 28. “There will be no more extensions and exemptions for anybody,” the court said.