SC upholds postponement of Andhra local body polls

The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with the decision of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission to postpone the local body elections in the state by six weeks due to the Corona virus pandemic.

The top court lifted the Model Code of Conduct in the state imposed due to the local body polls and directed that the Election Commission shall impose the Model Code four weeks before the notified date of polling.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant directed that the present development activities which have already been undertaken shall not be interrupted till the Model Code of Conduct



is reimposed.

The apex court said that if the State Government wishes to undertake any fresh developmental activities, they shall do so only with the prior permission of the Election Commission.

The bench said that in no circumstance the State Government shall be prevented from taking necessary steps to curb the menace of Corona virus pandemic.

Earlier this week, the State Election Commission had postponed the conduct of elections in two phases for the Gram Panchayats for which notifications were scheduled to be issued on  15th and 17th of this month.