Court orders may delay poll notification: SEC

Tirupati, Jun 5 (UNI) Following interim orders of the Andhra Pradesh High Court directing the state government to maintain status quo on the delimitation of mandal parishad territories, the notification for panchayat elections may be delayed, State Election Commissioner A V S Reddy today said.

Here to review election arrangments with officials of various districts, Mr Reddy told reporters the State Election Commission (SEC) today filed an appeal in the High Court against the direction and the orders were expected in a day or two.

He said the elections would be held in five phases and ballot boxes may be used instead of EVMs.

Mr Reddy said the process of identification of sensitive areas was on and the Commission would focus on maintenance of law and order during the poll process.

The SEC had asked the government not to disturb the teachers from their current posting till August 2006.

All representations on inclusion, deletion and setting up of polling stations will be enquired into by the collectors within three days of receipt for taking action.

He also asked the district administration to ensure that weaker sections were not in any way intimidated or prevented from voting.

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