Ramesh Kumar Restoring Himself As SEC Is Invalid: AG

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Advocate General Subrahmanyam Sriram said on Saturday that the state government would approach the Supreme court to appeal against the Andhra Pradesh High court order reinstating Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar as State Election Commissioner.
Speaking to mediapersons here, the AG said that the self-declaration of restoration to the office of State Election Commissioner (SEC) by Ramesh Kumar through a circular is invalid. He maintained that the High court has not directed Ramesh Kumar to continue as SEC. "The high court has directed the state government to restore him as the SEC. But even before the state government could act upon it, Ramesh Kumar himself issued a circular on his restoration as the SEC," Sriram said. He also said, "We have already filed a petition in the High Court seeking permission to go to the Supreme Court.

The AG observed that "If the state does not have the power to appoint SEC, the same will apply to Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar. If the governor does not need to go by cabinet recommendations, then the appointment of Ramesh Kumar as SEC earlier on the advice of Chandrababu Naidu is also invalid." 
The AG also said that Ramesh Kumar's orders through a whatsapp message to Prabhakar, SEC standing counsel, to resign is not enforceable.

He added that the appellant gets two months' time when the High court did not specify the time for appeal.