The Andhra Pradesh High Court on the 18th of February, reviewed the petition filed by Kodali Nani over the issued orders of the State Election Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar.
On the 17th of February, a High Court bench of single judge heard the arguments of both sides and reserved the order for the 18th of February.
On Wednesday, counsel for the petitioner, Prashant, argued that although the Commissioner of Elections has wide powers in the conduct of elections, he cannot order the deprivation of freedom of speech to which advocate Ashwani Kumar, appeared for SEC, said a person who is a minister should respect SEC, the constitutional body. Minister’s remarks are creating a sense of SEC incompetence among the people. “In that sense, it is possible the minister does not speak to the media.” SEC advocate argued.
On Thursday, the Court issued interim orders allowing the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Nani to speak to the media.
However, the High Court judge Justice D.V.S.S. Somayajulu clarified that he should not make any comments on the election process.
The High Court (HC) yesterday said it would issue appropriate interim order on a petition filed by Minister Kodali Nani.
The court asked Kodali Nani to not speak about the election process but could talk to media and dismissed the plea of SEC Kumar who demanded Mr. Kodali Nani to avoid media till the 21st of February. The Andhra Pradesh Grama Panchayat elections are scheduled to end on the 21st of February.
The State Election Commission (SEC) issued order to this effect on the morning of the 18th of February restraining him from speaking to the media till February 21.