Amaravati: The AP govt has released an order reinstating N Ramesh Kumar as the State Election Commissioner in compliance with a state High Court(H.C) ruling.
The notice released late on Thu. restoring Kumar’s post, although, stipulated that the reinstatement would be subject to the outcome of the state govt’s plea within the Supreme Court over the High Court(H.C) ruling.
The AP High Court had on May 29 struck down an ordinance of the state govt curtailing the SEC’s tenure from 5 to 3 yrs..
It’d also set aside the govt’s the other order appointing retired Judge V Kanagaraj as the SEC & had instructed the govt to restore Ramesh Kumar’s position as the SEC.
The state govt had subsequently challenged the High Court(H.C) ruling before the apex court, that had denied to stay the High Court(H.C) order. The mater is still pending with the Supreme Court.
Ramesh Kumar, meantime, had registered a contempt petition within the High Court(H.C) over the state govt for not reinstating him in accordance with its May 29 order.
The HC had instructed Kumar to make make a representation to the Governor for reinstating him as the SEC.
The retired bureaucrat, accordingly, met Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandan on Jul 20 & appealed that he be reinstated as SEC.
On Jul 21, the Governor instructed the state govt to comply with the HC order.
Although the state govt sought a stay on the HC directive on the contempt petition, the Supreme Court didn’t grant any relief.
Left with no different option, the govt finally released an order on Thu. reinstating Ramesh Kumar as SEC.