Telangana High Court Directs Authorities to Clarify Ibrahimpatnam Municipality Election Status
The Telangana High Court has issued a directive to the State Election Commission and the Rangareddy district collector, demanding an immediate update on the ongoing election process for the positions of municipal chairman and vice chairman in Ibrahimpatnam municipality. This municipality is situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, and the court's intervention highlights significant procedural delays and alleged irregularities in the electoral proceedings.
Petition Alleges Failure to Declare Election Results
Justice NV Shravan Kumar passed these directions while hearing a petition filed by Tekula Sudarshan Reddy. Reddy claimed that although ward councillors had elected him as chairman through a show of hands, election officials had failed to make an official announcement, thereby stalling the process. His counsel argued that Reddy holds a clear majority for the chairman post and urged the court to compel authorities to complete the election process and formally declare him as the chairman.
The counsel further elaborated that in a previous case, the court had disposed of a habeas corpus petition related to councillor Yadagiri, who was allegedly kidnapped. This disposal cleared the legal pathway to proceed with the election, yet no action was taken by the officials.
Legal Arguments and Counterclaims in Court
Appearing for the Election Commission, senior counsel Vidyasagar contended that the court should not base its decision on photographs submitted by the petitioner. Instead, he emphasized that the matter must be adjudicated strictly according to the rules outlined in the Telangana Municipal Act, ensuring a fair and lawful resolution.
Meanwhile, Yadagiri's counsel presented serious allegations, stating that BRS leader and former Ibrahimpatnam MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, along with his son Prashanth Kumar Reddy, had kidnapped Yadagiri and several other councillors. They were allegedly taken to Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh, where even Yadagiri's son was denied access when he attempted to meet them. The counsel added that Yadagiri had expressed a desire to become chairman, but Kishan Reddy refused this request, further complicating the electoral dynamics.
Court's Decision and Adjournment
After considering all submissions, Justice NV Shravan Kumar noted that a clear decision could not be reached until the district election officer files a counter affidavit. Consequently, the judge adjourned the matter to Friday for further hearing, underscoring the need for comprehensive documentation before any judicial ruling can be made.
This case underscores the critical importance of transparency and adherence to legal protocols in municipal elections, particularly in regions like Ibrahimpatnam where political tensions and allegations of misconduct have surfaced.
