Panchayat poll schedule: AP High Court adjourns hearing on single judge’s verdict

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a single judge’s verdict over the suspension of schedule announced for panchayat polls by the State Election Commission (SEC). On behalf of the SEC and State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, Supreme Court lawyer Adinarayana Rao and former Advocate-General DV Sitarama Murthy respectively have argued in the High Court. Both stressed the need for holding panchayat polls while continuing the vaccination drive. However, Advocate-General Subramanyam Sriram argued that health of the people is more important than elections. The hearing on SEC’s petition would continue on Tuesday.