The Supreme Court on October 21 directed the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) to defer publication of the final list of candidates for urban local body elections until October 25, after the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) alleged that violence and obstruction prevented several candidates from filing their nomination papers.
A Bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana directed the SEC to examine complaints and supporting evidence and decide by October 22 whether the nomination deadline should be extended in cases where candidates were allegedly prevented from filing their papers because of law-and-order problems.
The Court also directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure adequate police deployment, CCTV coverage at nomination centres and election offices, and necessary protection for candidates submitting nominations.
Background
The YSRCP approached the Supreme Court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court declined to extend the nomination deadline. The party alleged that its candidates faced violence, threats and physical obstruction during the nomination process, which began on October 16.
According to the petition, incidents were reported in Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Tirupati. The party alleged that a candidate's nomination papers were snatched and torn in Kadapa, while candidates in Tirupati were prevented from entering the offices of the concerned Returning Officers.
YSRCP counsel Senior Advocate Maninder Singh submitted that approximately 63% of the party's candidates had been prevented from filing nominations across 19 urban local bodies.
The State government disputed the party's allegations. Its counsel, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, accused the YSRCP of engaging in violence, while the SEC maintained that it had already issued directions for police protection and other security measures.
The Bench emphasised that although constitutional courts ordinarily exercise restraint in election matters, judicial review remains available when necessary to protect the fairness of the electoral process.
The power of judicial "review to ensure a fair and impartial election through filing of nomination papers cannot be wholly muted when the principal opposition political party in the State is before us and has placed on record materials, representations and materials, even prior to the commencement of the election process, expressing serious apprehension with regard to hindrance in participation in the election through filing nomination papers," the Court observed.
The Bench also stressed the importance of public confidence in elections, noting that candidates must have a genuine opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
"Instilling confidence in the election process is vital for the maintenance of constitutional democracy and rule of law," the Court said.
At the same time, the judges made clear that the Court would not take over the SEC's statutory responsibility for conducting elections. The Commission must assess individual complaints and determine whether the evidence supports claims of obstruction.
The Supreme Court directed the SEC to examine complaints submitted by candidates and the YSRCP, including video recordings and other supporting material. Where the Commission finds that a candidate could not file a nomination because of a law-and-order situation, it must consider extending the deadline.
The Court further directed that any extension granted must provide candidates with at least 48 hours from the date of the decision to submit their nomination papers.
"The Election Commission is to assess whether the directions for protection of candidates were implemented on the ground and provide appropriate material inputs so that a fair and impartial election is conducted," the Bench indicated.
The SEC and the DGP have been directed to submit compliance reports before the next hearing.
The Supreme Court deferred publication of the final candidate list until October 25 and directed the SEC to decide on the nomination-extension complaints by October 22. It also ordered enhanced security arrangements at nomination centres and election offices.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 27, when the SEC and the DGP are required to report compliance with the Court's directions.
Case Title: Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) v. State Election Commission, Andhra Pradesh & Others
Case Number: SLP(C) No. 37476/2026
