Supreme Court asserts authority to protect electoral process amid allegations of nomination obstruction

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court has stated that judicial intervention is permissible to safeguard the electoral process when free and fair elections face threats, observing that its hands are not tied.

The bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana made the remarks while granting interim relief to Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition party, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). The party alleged that violence and obstruction prevented approximately two-thirds of its candidates from filing nomination papers for urban local body elections in the state.

While acknowledging that the Constitution vests the responsibility of conducting and supervising local body polls with the State Election Commission, the apex court asserted its authority to intervene when electoral integrity is compromised.

The legal proceedings unfold amid broader national context involving ongoing demonstrations regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.