The fate of retired IAS officer Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar continues to hang in balance, even after the Supreme Court refused to grant stay on the high court judgement reinstating him as the State Election Commissioner.
At the same time, the Supreme Court did not give any specific directions to the government to continue Nimmagadda as the SEC, but said it would issue the directions after hearing the arguments of various respondents in the case, who were given two weeks’ time to file their counters.
Now, the question is whether Nimmagadda should continue as SEC or not. Since the Supreme Court refused to stay the high court order reinstating him as the SEC, he thinks it automatically indicates that he could continue as the SEC.
But the state government has given it a different interpretation, saying that the SC clearly said it would take a decision on reinstatement of Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar only after hearing the counters of the respondents after two weeks. Till such time, the high court order cannot be implemented.
This has left Nimmagadda in a state of confusion. Apparently, he is of the view that he would approach state governor Biswabhushan Harichandan and explain to him the whole situation, so that he could take a decision as per the AP Panchayat Raj Act.
“Since SEC is a constitutional post and he is appointed by the Govenor, Nimmagadda is of the view that he would get back into the post only after being reinstated by the Governor,” sources said.
