The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) challenging an Andhra Pradesh High Court order that refused to extend the deadline for filing nominations for the state’s Urban Local Body elections. The party has alleged violence and obstruction that prevented Opposition candidates from submitting their nomination papers.
In Tirupati, several candidates were reportedly stopped from entering the offices of the Returning Officers concerned. It argued that the failure to ensure a safe and fair nomination process violated constitutional provisions. However, the court allowed individual candidates facing threats to approach the concerned Election Officers for permission to file their nominations at alternative locations.
Mohana will hear the matter at 10.30 am on Wednesday. The Special Leave Petition (SLP), filed under Article 136 of the Constitution, challenges the High Court’s dismissal of the party’s application seeking a one-day extension of the nomination deadline in view of alleged disruptions during the filing process. On October 15, a single judge declined to grant the blanket relief sought by the party. On October 18, a Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the application, observing that the nomination period had expired and that granting the requested relief at that stage would amount to interference with the election process.
A Bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V, according to the cause list on the Supreme Court’s official website. Nomination papers belonging to a party candidate in Kadapa were allegedly seized and torn, according to the petition. The High Court further observed that constitutional courts would be “loath to issue” directions after the nomination deadline had expired if doing so amounted to interference with the election process.
The YSRCP had earlier approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, seeking directions to establish alternative nomination centres with adequate security.
