The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday claimed that it has all the powers to amend the service rules of state election commissioner and former SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar’s term was curtailed only in accordance with these powers.
This was asserted by state advocate general in the AP high court, which was hearing a petition challenging the removal of Nimmagadda from the SEC post through an ordinance.
The advocate general said the state had every power to control the service rules of the SEC.
“It has powers to make laws and its decision cannot be described as illegal and unconstitutional,” he said.
He said there was no truth in the allegations that the ordinance was brought in as a vindictive measure to target Nimmagadda. The ordinance was promulgated only as part of electoral reforms and holding elections impartially.
The advocate general pointed out that there were criticisms in the past on the appointment of principal secretary level officials as the SECs.
“In the past, too, the high court expressed doubts over the functioning of the election commission during hearings on various election petitions,” the AG said.
The high court asked the advocate general to submit any instances in the past wherein the term of office of people in constitutional position was reduced through ordinance.
