INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Vijayawada: Advocate general S
Sriram has informed the AP High Court that the state government is now fully committed to conducting the Covid-19 vaccination programme in a
While this is the first priority, the state would also ensure better turnout of voters in the gram panchayat polls if the elections are held
after completion of the vaccination programme.This is why the state government is raising objections against the state election commission
Praveen Kumar held the hearing on Monday as the SEC challenged the interim order issued by the single judge suspending the election schedule
for gram panchayat polls in four phases in February.Advocate general S
Sriram informed the court that the AP government was duty-bound to follow the guidelines issued by the Centre on the Covid-19 vaccination
state government was not in a position to simultaneously take up the Covid-19 vaccination programme and the gram panchayat polls
If polls are held alongside the vaccination programme, the voter turnout would not cross 50 per cent
The people would be afraid of coming out for voting as it involved a risk to their health.The AG said if the polls are held after completion
of the ongoing vaccination programme, it would help enhance the voter turnout.The AG explained to the court as to how the state had carried
out a dry run based on the guidelines from the Centre before taking up the vaccination programme
The onerous task involved vaccination of 3.7 lakh healthcare workers, seven lakh frontline workers, 95 lakh ordinary individuals above age
response from targeted persons, the government would go ahead with the vaccination programme
He also informed the court that as the two doses of vaccine are to be administered with a space of 28 days, it would take time to complete
The Supreme Court had made it clear as to what the circumstances are under which courts could intervene in such matters, he said, and argued
Harinath informed the court that lots of manpower and machinery are required for taking up the vaccination programme
Elections could be held any time but safeguarding the lives of the people is more important.SEC senior counsel B
Adinarayana Rao said the SEC was conducting gram panchayat polls as part of its Constitutional responsibility and asked as to what personal
benefit the SEC could derive by holding polls as per present schedule
After all, his kin were not contesting the polls.SEC senior counsel D.V
Sitharama Murthy told the court that the state government made the SEC a respondent in its petition in his individual capacity and asked as
and asked SEC counsel to file his reply.
