Tanvi Sinha
Andhra Pradesh High Court reversed the ‘confinement’ restrictions imposed by State Election Commission (SEC) on Minister P. Ramachandra Reddy for his remarks that they stated had created fear in the minds of the electorate.
Justice D.V.S.S Somayajulu announced the order when they heard PR Reddy’s house motion, filed against the SEC order. He did however, direct the minister to not address any media, as was also ordered by the SEC.
The SEC on Saturday had asked the Director General of Police to confine the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister to his residence till the completion of the Gram Panchayat elections on February 21st.
SEC Ramesh Kumar had passed the order of confinement on Sunday to safeguard the spirit of free and fair elections, and that the order was entirely preventive in nature, with the minister still being at liberty to avail medical services and cater to any other urgent needs.
Reddy’s counsel stated that the minister was not given any notice before the order for confinement was issued and that he suspected political motives behind this move.
SEC had stated in its order that the minister had in a press conference last week told the collectors and returning officers to not obey instructions of the Election Commissioner and going against this would result in action against those officials and they would be blacklisted after the polls.