AP HC quashes EC order on time-limit for polling agents

Hyderabad, June 27 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh High Court today quashed a State Election Commission order and directed election authorities to accept list of polling agents till before commencement of poll.

Hearing a batch of petitions filed by TDP activists, Mr Justice P S Narayana quashed the SEC's order directing contesting candidates to furnish to the returning officer the list of persons to be appointed as polling agents at least one day before the date of poll.

In keeping with the judge's order, EC Secretary G N Rao asked all returning officers to instruct the presiding officer to accept the list of persons to be appointed polling agents by candidates or election agents under Rule 19 of Conduct of Election Rules, 2006, before start of polling at 0700 hrs on June 28 and July two.

Citing past instances, petitioners said the EC's order gave scope for kidnapping of polling agents by rival candidates or supporters, ahead of the polls, if their names were declared one day in advance.

The EC argued that a minimum one day was required to check the antecedents of polling agents. The Judge did not concur.

It may be recalled that a Single Judge had quashed the election notification on the ground that there were discrepancies in the voters' list. However, a Division Bench of the High Court suspended the Single Judge's order on an appeal by the EC and the State Government, clearing the decks for the two-phase polls.

UNI SM/XR/AA SHR ND1925