The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain the YSR Congress party’s plea challenging the relaxation of postal ballot norms by the Election Commission in Andhra Pradesh.
A vacation bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta stated that they did not see any merit in the petition, thereby upholding the decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The YSR Congress Party had approached the Supreme Court to contest the Election Commission's circular concerning the counting of postal ballots in Andhra Pradesh.
This challenge followed the High Court's rejection of their plea, which questioned the Election Commission’s decision. The High Court dismissed the plea on the grounds that the petitioner had an alternate remedy available in the form of an election petition.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the YSR Congress, argued against the circular, pointing out that it was issued mid-stream during the elections and was uniquely applied to Andhra Pradesh. He contended that this specific targeting disrupted the election process and was unfairly biassed.
The controversy stems from the Election Commission's decision to relax postal ballot norms, which the YSR Congress believes could influence the election results.
Despite these concerns, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court's stance, emphasising the availability of alternative legal remedies and finding no substantial reason to overturn the Election Commission’s decision.
This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing electoral process in Andhra Pradesh, as the YSR Congress continues to navigate the implications of the relaxed postal ballot norms and their impact on the election outcomes.
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