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Judgment
Heard Sri Madhava Rao Nalluri, learned counsel for the petitioners, learned Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development appearing for the respondent Nos.1, 3 and 5, Sri N.Ashwani Kumar, learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondent Nos.2 and 7.
The grievance of the petitioners in the instant writ petition is against the action of the respondents in not allowing the petitioners either to cast their votes or allow them to contest in the ensuing elections to be held on 29.11.2026, for the Meerjapeta Gram Panchayat, Tarlupadu Mandal, Markapuram District, despite petitioners names were included in the voters list published on 31.07.2026, and issuance of EPICs, thereby depriving their right to cast their votes and to contest in the Electoral Process in the ensuing Gram Panchayat Elections.
The 2nd petitioner is intending to contest to the office of Sarpanch, Meerjapeta Gram Panchayat. The petitioners contend that they have submitted applications in Form-8 seeking transfer of their names from the Electoral Rolls of Tarlupadu Village and Gram Panchayat to the Meerjapeta Village and Gram Panchayat. The same were processed and the EPIC cards were also generated, bearing EPIC Nos.MPV1342880, MPV1342872 and ZIO1095083 respectively duly reflecting the names of the petitioners in Meerjapeta, Tarlupadu Mandal. In light of the same, the petitioners seek a direction under the provisions of Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, to include their names in the electoral roll of Meerjapeta, Tarlupadu Mandal, and to allow the petitioners to cast their votes and to allow the 2nd petitioner to contest in the ensuing elections that would be conducted for the Post of Sarpanch.
Having regard to the status of EPICs issued/generated in the case of the petitioners and in light of the provisions of Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and the Circulars/Orders of the SEC dated 14.10.2026, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition, directing the respondent Nos.2 and 6, while publishing the Photo Electoral Roll of the subject Gram Panchayat for the ensuing elections, due consideration shall be given to the provisions of Section 11 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994and the Circular dated 14.10.2026, issued by the SEC, so as to reflect the names of the petitioners in the Photo Electoral Roll that would be issued by the SEC for conducting elections to the office of Sarpanch of the Meerajpeta Gram Panchayat.
With the above direction, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall also stand closed.