WP/32401/2026 of B. Jagadheesh Vs The State of Andhra Pradesh on 4 November 2026

1. B. Jagadheesh, S/o. B. Krishna Reddy, Aged about 42 years, Occupation: Farming, ZPTC Contesting Candidate, Karvetinagaram Mandal, D.No.2-133, Sekuvaripalli Village, Alathuru Panchayat, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District - 517582.

2. D. Errabba, , S/o. Late Pandaiah, Aged about years, Occupation.Farming, MPTC Contesting Candidate, Kollagunta H.W., Kollagunta, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District - 517582

3. T. Soniya, , D/o. Rajendran, Aged about 25 years, Occupation:MPTC Contesting Candidate, D.No. 3-73, T.T. Kandriga, Alathuru, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District - 517582

4. Kunchipalli Jayamma, , W/o. K. Subramanyam, Aged about 55 years, Occupation. MPTC Contesting Candidate, R/o. Erramarajupalle H.W., Erramarajupalle, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District - 517582

5. Smt. Mudela Bharathi, , W/o. Sri Mudela Lakshma Reddy, Aged about 29 years, Occupation. House wife, ZPTC Contesting Candidate, Piduguralla Mandal, D.No. 1-117, Main Road, China Agraharam Village, Piduguralla Mandal, Palnadu District ...Petitioners AND

1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District 522238

2. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Home Department, Secretariat, Velagapudi, Amaravati, Guntur District 522237

3. The State Election Commission of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its State Election Commissioner, 1st Floor, New HODs Building, MG Road, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520010.

4. The Secretary, Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, 1st Floor, New HODs Building, MG Road, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh-520010.

5. The District Collector and District Election Officer, Collectorate, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. 517002.

6. The Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. 517001.

7. The Additional Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. 517001.

8. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub-Division (Puttur / Chittoor Sub- Division), Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh 517583/517001.

9. The Returning Officer concerned for ZPTC Elections, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District 517582.

10. The Returning Officer concerned for MPTC Elections, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District 517582.

11. The Mandal Parishad Development Officer MPDO, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District. 517582.

12. The Tahsildar, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District-517582.

13. The Station House Officer, Karvetinagaram Police Station, Chittoor District 517582.

14. The Zonal Officer I, concerned, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District 517582.

15. The Zonal Officer II, concerned, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

16. The Assistant Returning Officer concerned for ZPTC Elections, T, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District 517582

17. The Assistant Returning Officer concerned for MPTC Elections, , Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

18. The Sector Officer I, concerned, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

19. The Sector Officer II, concerned, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

20. The Election Observer, appointed by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, for Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

21. The Election Nodal Officer concerned for CCTV Cameras and Webcasting, , Chittoor District . 517001 / 517002.

22. The Police Nodal Officer concerned for Election Security and Law and Order, , Chittoor District . 517001.

No.1, Erramarajupalli, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

24. The Presiding Officer, , Polling Station No.4, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Gajanki, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

25. The Presiding Officer, , Polling Station No.5, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Viratapuram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

26. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.6, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, KP Agraharam, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

No.1, Jandlapeta, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

28. The Presiding Officers, , Polling Station Nos.8 and 9, MPP Primary School, Rooms Nos.1 and 2, Krishnapuram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

29. The Presiding Office, r, Polling Station No.12, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Yaddarapukandriga, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

30. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.26, MPP Upper Primary School, Room No.1, Padmasarasu, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

31. The Presiding Officer, , Polling Station No.29, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Vijayamambapuram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

32. The Presiding Officers, Polling Station Nos.30 and 31, MPP Primary School, Classrooms Nos.1 and 2, DM Puram, Karvetinagaram Mandal,

33. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.32 MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Surendranagaram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

34. The Presiding Officer, , Polling Station No.33, ZP High School, South 10th Class, KM Puram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District 517582.

35. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.34, ZP High School, West 8th Class, KM Puram, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

School, Rooms Nos.1 and 2, Annur, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

37. The Presiding Officer, , Polling Station No.40, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Alathur, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

38. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.41, Anganwadi Building, Room No.1, Alathur, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

39. The Presiding Officer, Polling Station No.42, MPP Primary School, Room No.1, Edigapalli, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

No.1, Mukkaravaripalli, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

41. The Presiding Officers, , Polling Station Nos.44 and 45, ZP High School, Classrooms Nos.2 and 3, Kollagunta, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

42. The Presiding Officers, , Polling Station Nos.46 and 47, MPP Primary School, Rooms Nos.1 and 2, Gopichettipalle PHW, Karvetinagaram Mandal,

No.1, LR Peta, Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

44. The Micro Observer concerned appointed for the hyper, .sensitive polling stations in Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District . 517582.

45. The District Collector and District Election Officer, , Palnadu District, Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh . 522601.

46. The Superintendent of Police, , Palnadu District, Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh . 522601.

47. The Mandal Parishad Development Officer MPDO, , Piduguralla Mandal, Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh . 522413.

48. The Returning Officer concerned for ZPTC Elections, Piduguralla ZPTC Territorial Constituency, Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh 522413.

49. The Station House Officer, Piduguralla Police Station, Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh . 522413 ...Respondents

Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toto issue an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of a Writ of Mandamus, declaring the inaction of the respondents in failing to consider the petitioners email representation dated 04.11.2026 as arbitrary, illegal, and violative of fundamental rights, and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith consider the said representation and provide adequate police protection and enhanced security to all the petitioners, their election agents and supporters against threats, intimidation and attacks by rowdy elements and anti social persons, and further direct the respondents to install CCTV cameras with continuous webcasting, video recording, UPS, inverters and sufficient battery backup at all the 21 identified hyper sensitive polling stations in Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District, as detailed in the Writ Petition, and at all identified sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations within Piduguralla ZPTC Constituency, Palnadu District, relating to the 5th petitioner, Smt. Mudela Bharathi, so as to

ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent conduct of elections scheduled on 05.11.2026 and to pass Counsel for the Petitioners: GUNDALA SIVA PRASADA REDDY Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR PANCHAYAT RAJ RURAL DEV Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR HOME

WRIT PETITION NO:32401 of 2026 The Court made the following Order: Instant lis is listed before this Court by way of House Motion and taken up by this Court today @ 10.30 AM.

2. Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief: “to issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of Mandamus declaring the inaction of the respondents in failing to consider the petitioners email representation dated 04.11.2026 as arbitrary, illegal, and violative of fundamental rights, and consequently direct the respondents to forthwith consider the said representation and provide adequate police protection and enhanced security to all the petitioners, their election agents and supporters against threats, intimidation and attacks by rowdy elements and anti-social persons, and further direct the respondents to install CCTV cameras with continuous webcasting, video recording, UPS, inverters and sufficient battery backup at all the 21 identified hyper sensitive polling stations in Karvetinagaram Mandal, Chittoor District, as detailed in the Writ Petition, and at all identified sensitive and hyper sensitive polling stations within Piduguralla ZPTC Constituency, Palnadu District, relating to the 5th petitioner, Smt. Mudela Bharathi, so as to ensure free, fair, peaceful and transparent conduct of elections scheduled on 05.11.2026 and to pass”

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are contesting candidates for ZPTC/MPTC elections at Karvatinagaram Mandal,

Chittoor District, and Piduguralla Mandal, Palnadu District. He submits that the petitioners are apprehending irregularities by unruly elements.

4. Conversely, Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.3, 4, 14 to 44 & 48, states that State Election Commissioner vide Order No.1470/SEC-F1/2026 dated 01.11.2026 directed all the Collectors & DEAs/Commissioners of Police, Superintendents of Police and other concerned officers to ensure conduct of elections in a free, fair and transparent manner by strictly following the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 27.10.2026 in SLP(C) No.37476 of 2026.

5. Copy of Order No.1470/SEC-F1/2026 dated 01.11.2026 is made part of the record:

6. Learned counsel for the petitioners fairly states that though the petition is filed seeking protection for the petitioners, election agents and supporters too, but as of now, he is not pressing the instant petition insofar as election agents and supporters and prays this Court to pass a similar order to that of the Order of this Court dated 03.11.2026 in WP No.32226 of 2026.

7. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home and learned Standing Counsel for the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, unequivocally submit that the issue involved in the instant lis is squarely covered by the Order of this Court dated 03.11.2026 in WP No.32226 of 2026.

8. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri Ajay Babu, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home and Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, appearing on behalf of respondent Nos.3, 4, 14 to 44 and 48 and perused the entire material available on record.

9. Recently, Hon’ble Supreme Court in Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party Vs. The State of Andhra Pradesh & Others1, held as under: “(i) The Commission shall take all necessary steps to allay the apprehensions of political parties and prospective candidates and ensure that they have a free and fair chance to contest such elections.

(ii) The Commission shall ensure that its directions vide Order No.840/SEC-F1/2026 dated 16.10.2026 for the ULBs shall apply to elections in other local bodies for effective participation in a free and fair election.

(iii) Wherever representations are made before the Commission by political parties and/or their candidates alleging breach of law and order impeding the filing of nominations, the Commission shall consider such representations and, if satisfied, shall take 11 appropriate remedial measures, including extending the last date for filing nominations and arranging for receipt of nominations before the District Collector at the District necessary. Headquarters concerned, wherever necessary.

(iv) In the event there is obstruction resulting in any candidate not being able to file nomination, such candidate would be entitled to file an election petition in accordance with law.

(v) The Director General of Police shall ensure due compliance with these directions as well as the directions issued by the Commission, provide adequate police bandobast at the nomination centres to ensure smooth and unhindered filing of nominations by all prospective candidates in the ensuing elections to all local bodies, and maintain law and order throughout the election process.

(vi) Videography/CCTV camera coverage shall be arranged at the centres receiving nominations, the offices of the Returning Officers, the polling stations, the strong rooms and the counting centres. The footage shall be preserved till the expiry of the period of limitation for filing an election petition and, where one is filed, till its final disposal. It shall be 1 SLP(C) No.37476 of 2026 dated 24.10.2026

made available to the Election Tribunal upon requisition and to any party to such petition on application.”

10. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and taking note of dictum of the Apex Court in Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party referred to above and in view of the Order of this Court dated 03.11.2026 in WP No.32226 of 2026, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the instant petition, directing the respondents to consider the petitioners’ representation dated 04.11.2026 and pass appropriate orders, as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with the law.

11. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

12. Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission, shall forthwith communicate the gist of this Order to the concerned, for effective implementation.

13. Registry is directed to append a copy of the Order of this Court dated 03.11.2026 in WP No.32226 of 2026 to this Order.

As a sequel, Interlocutory applications pending, if any, shall stand closed.

____________________________________ JUSTICE MAHESWARA RAO KUNCHEAM Date: 05.11.2026 Note: Issue CC by 05.11.2026 B/o. PSA

WRIT PETITION NO: 32401 of 2026

Date: 05.11.2026

Note: Issue CC by 05.11.2026 B/o. PSA