The episode of retired IAS officer Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, who has been fighting for his reinstatement as Andhra Pradesh state election commissioner (SEC), appears to be an unending saga, thanks to Coronavirus pandemic.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing a special leave petition filed by the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government challenging the high court order on Nimmagadda’s reinstatement, on Wednesday refused to grant stay on the high court order once again.
The apex court reiterated that the intention of the government in removing Ramesh Kumar through an ordinance route was not proper.
It reminded that it had already rejected the state government’s plea for a stay on the high court order. It deferred the final hearings in the case by three more weeks.
The state government requested the Supreme Court to constitute an interim committee in the absence of the SEC to continue the election process for panchayat raj elections in the state.
The petitioner also pointed out to the court that Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar had secret links with politicians as was evident from a video obtained from a hotel.
But the Supreme Court indicated that it would hear the matter finally within three weeks.
“We will hear it finally and since we are going to do that, there would be no interim order,” it said.
