News:The Andhra Pradesh government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the High Court over the issue of the State Election Commission(SEC) postponing the local body elections due to Coronavirus threat.
Facts:
About State Election Commission(SEC):
- State Election Commission is a constitutional authority constituted under the provisions of 243K read with article 243ZA Of The Constitution of India.
- They were constituted for superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities.
Composition:
- The State Election Commission is a single member Commission comprising the State Election Commissioner.
- Under the provisions contained in Article 243K(1) of the Constitution of India, the Governor appoints the State Election Commissioner of the State.
- They enjoy the powers same as those by the Election Commission of India(ECI) and can only be removed from his office in the similar manner and on the grounds as a judge of a High Court.
Supreme Court on SEC:
- In Kishan Singh Tomar vs Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court directed that state governments should abide by orders of the SECs during the conduct of the panchayat and municipal elections just like they follow the instructions of the EC during Assembly and Parliament polls.
