When Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar refused to conduct the local body elections in the state, citing Coronavirus, it greatly angered the state government. As a result, the government passed an ordinance to remove Ramesh Kumar as the SEC, and appointed retired Tamil Nadu Judge, V. Kanagaraj as the new SEC.
However, Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar then moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court, challenging the government’s decision of removing him from his post. Ramesh Kumar was removed from his post before he could complete his five year tenure, just because he went against the Andhra Pradesh government by postponing the local body elections.
After the High Court of Andhra Pradesh government gave an order that reinstated Ramesh Kumar as the SEC of Andhra Pradesh, the government of Andhra Pradesh government filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, requesting for a stay order on the High Court’s decision.
The Supreme Court had refused to stay the order given by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on June 2nd, questioning the ordinance given to Ramesh Kumar by the government of Andhra Pradesh. The Supreme Court had once again refused to stay the High Court’s order on June 24th, and warned the government not to play with the constitutional functionaries.
Now, in another blow to the government of Andhra Pradesh, the Supreme Court has once again refused to stay the orders of the High Court, for the third time. This would mean that Ramesh Kumar would continue to serve as the SEC until further orders from the SC.