HC judge recuses from Kondapalli municipality case

[Anta Assamey]

n December 22 , 2021 | UPDATED 18:53 IST

In an interesting twist to the controversy over the election of Kondapalli municipal chairman in Krishna district, a high court judge hearing the arguments recused himself from the case, following an argument with the lawyer who has taken up the case on behalf of YSR Congress party.

The high court, which allowed the conduct of election to the municipality last month, has been hearing the case on the validity of Telugu Desam Party MP Kesineni Nani’s vote as an ex-officio member in the Kondapalli municipal election.

However, the arguments took a surprising turn when the lawyer arguing on behalf of YSRC councillors, entered into a heated argument with the judge.

Even though the judge refused to hear his version, he continued to argue. As a result, the judge recused himself from the case.

He informed chief justice Prashant Kumar Mishra in this regard and asked him to constitute another bench to hear the case.

The government lawyer arguing on behalf of Kondapalli municipality brought to the notice of the high court that Kesineni Nani had already given his option for a co-option vote in Vijayawada municipal corporation. So, he won’t be eligible to vote in the Kondapalli municipal chairman and vice-chairman elections.

When the returning officer rejected his plea for the vote, the MP had approached the high court.

“This is not correct, as he should file the election petition before the election commission and not the high court,” the government lawyer argued.

But even before the high court heard the arguments of the additional advocate general and the state election commissioner’s counsel, the judge recused himself from the case.