Andhra Pradesh News: High Court will not interfere with Election Commission’s directive on postal ballots

Vijayawada. Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has refused to interfere with the Election Commission’s recent directive on the validity of postal ballots. The court suggested the petitioner, YSRC general secretary Lela Appireddy, to seek alternative forums regarding the issue of postal ballots, including filing an election petition.

The Election Commission had issued a direction on May 30 stating that Form 13A, in which the verification officer authorized by the Returning Officer of the constituency puts his signature identifying the voter casting the postal ballot but does not mention his name and designation or affix his seal, will be considered valid at the time of counting of postal ballots.

The court agreed with the submission of the counsel for the Election Commission that courts should not interfere after the election process has begun. The court said that since the counting of postal ballots will also be considered for election results, the petitioner can file an election petition instead of going to the High Court.