Proposal Contrary to Constitutional Provisions and High Court Orders
Undermining Local Governance and Democratic Principles
“The following is the Letter published text of EAS Sarma to SEC”
Retired IAS and Secretary Government of India
Appeal to the State Election Commission to Reject the Proposal
To
Anil Chandra Punetha, SEC, Andhra Pradesh
I saw a news report that the State Government has proposed to the State Election Commission to postpone the general elections scheduled for the 68 Gram Panchayats within the Amaravati capital region (https://www.andhrajyothy.com/2026/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-proposes-postponement-of-elections-in-68-amaravati-villages-1567249.html).
Under Part IX of the Constitution, elections for panchayats must be held in a timely and continuous manner. Within the Amaravati capital region, there are no elected representatives on behalf of local people in the APCRDA. However, in that region, the State Government is spending public funds on a large scale to divert agricultural lands within the jurisdiction of panchayats for non-agricultural purposes. Under the Constitution and the State Panchayat Raj Act, local panchayats possess numerous powers, such as levying taxes and undertaking development programs. The State Government disregarding such powers and proposing to postpone panchayat elections is contrary to the Constitution and the Panchayat Act.
On this very matter, in certain cases (Writ Appeal No: 1063 of 2026 along with W.A.Nos.1048, 1049, 1050, 1059, 1075, 1087, 1091, 1096, 1101, 1102 of 2026; W.P.(PIL) No.44 of 2026; W.P.Nos.8229, 7528, 24306 of 2026), the State High Court issued the following orders on 01-10-2026:
“State Election Commission and the State are under a Constitutional mandate to hold timely elections and carry out the pre-election process as required in a timely fashion. In the present case, tenure of representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies expired on 02.04.2026 and 17.03.2026, respectively, hence we direct the State Government and A P State Election Commission, to expeditiously, commence the process of holding elections to Panchayat Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies in the State, preferably not later than six (6) weeks from today”.
(iv) The elected Sarpanches/ Chairman of concerned Gram Panchayat/ Municipality do not have any right to hold the said position beyond the period of five years as per the Constitutional mandate.
(v) Continued operation of an electoral roll in existence on the qualifying date cannot be affected by process of Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Elections to the Local Bodies cannot be postponed on account of this reason. There should be complete compliance with Section 11 of A.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and A.P. Municipalities Act, 1965, as well as Section 12 of Municipal Corporations Act, 1955″.
The State Election Commission is an independent body appointed under Articles 243K and 243ZA of the Constitution. Keeping this in mind, the Commission must function in accordance with the Constitution and the orders of the State High Court. Regarding the works of the capital Amaravati, it is essential for the Government and the APCRDA to function with accountability to the local people. For that reason, failing to conduct the Panchayat elections in a timely manner amounts to undermining the democratic process. Based on the points mentioned above, I request the State Election Commission to reject the proposal made by the State Government to postpone the general elections due for the 68 Gram Panchayats in the Amaravati capital region.
14-10-2026,
14-40-4/1 Gokhale Road
Maharanipeta
Visakhapatnam 530002
Mobile: 91-9866021646
Email: eassarma@gmail.com
Website: http://eassarma.in
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