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Judgment
Heard Sri Challa Sivasankar, learned counsel for the petitioner; and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 3 & 7, Assistant Government Pleader for Revenue appearing for respondent No.4; and Sri P. Vengala Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for Municipal Corporations, appearing for respondent Nos.5 & 6.
Challenging the inaction of respondent Nos.1 to 5 in providing additional police force, in respect of polling booth Nos.15/1, 15/2, 15/3, 15/4 and 15/5, pertaining to Ward No.15 in Kurnool City, within the jurisdiction of respondent Nos.5 to 7, the instant Writ Petition has been filed.
The petitioner contends that she has submitted a representation to the State Election Commission. However, due to an inadvertent error, the said authority could not be impleaded as a party respondent. Having regard to the same, this Court suo motu impleads the State Election Commission as party respondent No.8, to the Writ Petition.
When the matter has been taken up for hearing, Ms. K. Shahin, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, appearing for the respondents, has placed before the Court a copy of the instructions received in the case. The same are taken on record. A perusal of the same would reflect that Ward No.15 is a highly sensitive area and that the Police have taken preventive measures, including deployment of shadow parties, maintaining close surveillance over the movements of both parties, binding over troublemakers and deploying sufficient bandobust at the polling stations to ensure the peaceful conduct of free and fair elections. It is further stated that, if necessary, house arrest measures will also be taken against troublemakers on the polling day.
It is further stated that no specific threat warranting police protection to the petitioner has been established based on the information presently available with them. Nevertheless, it is stated that the respondent Police are maintaining vigilance to preserve public peace and tranquillity and will take appropriate legal action in accordance with law in the event of any threat or cognizable offence being brought to their notice.
Having regard to the above, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the Writ Petition, directing respondent Nos.3, 7 & 8 to take up appropriate measures in accordance with law to ensure the peaceful conduct of the scheduled elections to the Urban Local Bodies and to provide necessary police protection, if warranted.
In view of the above, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.
As a sequel, all pending miscellaneous applications shall stand closed.