Balagam Venkata Rao vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh & Ors.

Heard Sri V.R.Reddy Kovvuri, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development and Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel for State Election Commission appearing for the respondents.

The grievance of the petitioner in the instant Writ Petition is against the action of the respondents in not including the vote of the petitioner in electoral roll of Kondapalem Grama Panchayat, Garividi Mandal, Vizianagaram District (bearing EPIC No.NFK1575505).

The petitioner contends that his electoral registration was registered in Thondangi, Garividi Mandal. It is contended that the petitioner had filed an application in prescribed format of Form-8 seeking transposition of his name to Garividi, the same was processed transposing the name of the petitioner in the Electoral Roll of 15-Cheepurupalle Assembly Constituency. In the said regard, EPIC was also downloaded on 01.11.2026 duly reflects the name of the petitioner in Cheepurupalle Assembly Constituency. However, the petitioner’s name is not reflecting in the Electoral Roll of Kondapalem Grama Panchayat and the petitioner is intending to contest of Office of Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat in the ensuing Gram Panchayat Elections. Seeking publication of his name in the Electoral Roll, the petitioner had made a representation dated 11.11.2026 to the respondent Nos.2 & 3. As the same was not considered, petitioner has approached this Court seeking consideration of his request for incorporation of his name in the Electoral Roll.

The petitioner contends that the Gram Panchayat elections are likely to be notified any time soon and that no orders have been passed on the said representation. Therefore, the petitioner has approached this Court seeking a direction to the respondents to include the name in the electoral roll that would be published for the ensuing Gram Panchayat elections.

Considered the submissions.

The proviso to Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, specifically provides that any amendment, transposition or deletion of any entry in the electoral roll, or any inclusions of names in the electoral roll up to the date of election notification shall be carried out in the electoral roll of the Gram Panchayat and any such names included shall be added to the part relating to that Ward.

Having regard to the status of the EPIC issued by the ECI (downloaded on 01.11.2026) and in light of the provisions of Section 11 of the AP Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and having regard to the circular instructions of the State Election Commission dated 14.10.2026, the respondent Nos.2 & 3 is directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the representation dated 11.11.2026 of the petitioner as expeditiously as possible before issuing the election notification for Gram Panchayat.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, all pending miscellaneous applications shall stand closed.