Vijayawada, Aug 3 (IANS): Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar assumed charge as Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) on Monday, three days after the state government reinstated him on the orders of the High Court.
The retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer arrived at the SEC office and took the charge. He said all the district collectors and other officials concerned were informed about his assuming office.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Kumar said that the SEC is an independent Constitutional body and functions without any prejudice. He hoped that he would continue to get the support from the government in discharge of his duties.
Ramesh Kumar was removed as SEC by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government after he postponed the local body elections in March citing the precautions required to check the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
The state government on July 31 issued a gazette notification in the name of Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, restoring Ramesh Kumar as SEC on the direction of the High Court.
The notification stated that it was subject to the outcome of the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the state government in the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order.
The development came 10 days after Ramesh Kumar called on the governor and brought to his notice the orders passed by the High Court reinstating him as the SEC and instruction given by the court in a contempt petition filed by him against some government officials for not implementing the court orders.
The High Court on July 16 had asked Ramesh Kumar to call on the Governor, saying the latter has the powers to appoint the SEC as per its order.
The bench comprising Chief Justice J.K. Maheshwari and M. Satyanarayana Murthy gave the direction on a contempt of court petition filed by Ramesh Kumar who was reinstated as SEC by the High Court on May 29.
He alleged that the state government was resorting to contempt of court by not allowing him to resume office as the SEC.
YSRCP government had issued an ordinance on April 10 to sack Ramesh Kumar as the SEC following a row over the postponement of local body elections.
Within hours after sacking him, the government appointed former high court judge Justice V. Kanagaraj as the new SEC.
On the petitions of Ramesh Kumar and several others, the High Court on May 29 struck down the ordinance, declaring it unconstitutional. It also set aside the orders appointing Kanagaraj as the new SEC.
Ramesh Kumar had issued a circular to all District Collectors, CEOs of zilla praja parishads, District Panchayat Officers, and Municipal Commissioners the same day, stating that pursuant to the High Court orders he stood restored to the office of SEC.
However, the next day he withdrew the circular after Advocate General S. Subramanya Sriram stated that Ramesh Kumar's action of issuing a circular is illegal as the High Court had not asked him to take charge.