VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court division bench has set aside a single judge's order on the voters' lists for the local body elections. The single judge had directed the State Election Commission to consider electoral rolls updated up to July 15, 2026.
A bench of Justice Mandava Kiranmayi and Justice Alapati Giridhar ruled that the Commission could decide on the final rolls based on its own circulars. The bench passed the order on Monday on an appeal by the Commission.
The Commission had appealed against the single judge's directions of October 16. The single judge had asked it to issue clear and uniform instructions to officials on the voters' lists to be used.
The YSR Congress Party had approached the High Court on the issue. It alleged that the Commission failed to act on its representation seeking publication of the final voters' lists after claims and objections received up to August 31, 2026, were resolved.
The claims and objections related to additions, deletions and corrections to the draft electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision. The party sought directions to ensure that the final rolls reflected all approved changes before the elections.
The YSRCP had earlier written to State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha on the rolls. It argued that the Election Commission of India's rolls as of February 5, 2026, should not be the cut-off. That list would exclude voters enrolled up to July 15, when registration was frozen for the Special Intensive Revision.
The Supreme Court has clarified that the local body polls can use the revised rolls if they are published before the election notification. Otherwise, the existing rolls apply under Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
The State Election Commission has announced the poll schedule and the Model Code of Conduct is in force. Thirteen municipal corporations and 87 municipalities are due to vote on October 28.