Andhra Pradesh state high court, which has been facing criticism from the ruling YSR Congress party for its anti-government judgements, once again launched a tirade against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Acting on a petition filed by State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, the high court delivered its verdict stating that the state government was acting irresponsibly by not cooperating with the SEC representations.
“It appears the state government was acting in a vindictive manner against Ramesh Kumar, whom it had removed in the past and who had been reinstated by the judiciary later. It is evident from the way the government was not extending any cooperation to the SEC,” the high court observed.
It said the governments might come and go, but the Constitutional bodies like SEC were constant.
“If can’t safeguard the Constitutional institutions, democracy will collapse,” he said.
The high court also found fault with the Jagan government over the payment of fees to the advocate engaged by former SEC Justice V Kanagaraj, who was appointed as SEC after the removal of Nimmagadda.
“If Kanagaraj appointed his own advocate, why should the government pay him fees? He should have spent the money from his own pocket,” the court said.
The high court also asked the SEC to examine the expenditure made by Kanagaraj during his tenure, including Rs 20 lakh for his house and another Rs 15 lakh towards his furniture.
“People should now how much public money had been spent on Kanagaraj,” it said.
The court asked the SEC to submit a detailed representation as to what exactly he need from the government.
“If the government does not entertain his petition, he can come back to the court,” it suggested.
