New Delhi, Oct 21: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (APSEC) to decide by October 22 on extending nomination deadlines for urban local body polls wherever candidates were allegedly prevented from filing nominations due to law and order issues, ANI reported.

A vacation bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed the State poll panel to postpone publication of the final candidates' list until October 25 and to examine complaints of violence, obstruction and electronic evidence by Thursday. The final list was originally scheduled for publication on October 21. Live Law, reporting the same hearing independently, confirmed the October 22 decision deadline, the deferral until October 25, and that any extension must give candidates at least 48 hours from publication of the decision.

The bench further ordered that the Director General of Police must ensure police protection to candidates and CCTV coverage at nomination centres, and sought a compliance report from the poll panel and the State. The matter was posted for hearing on October 27.

The apex court was hearing a plea by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court's refusal to extend the nomination deadline, alleging that violence and intimidation prevented its candidates from filing their papers — the allegations are the party's claims and have not been established as findings. During the hearing, the bench observed that free and fair elections are part of the Constitution's basic structure and that the right to file nominations is integral to the electoral process.

Sources: ANI via Latestly, Live Law, DevDiscourse.