Mockery of justice system: Supreme Court on HC relief to MLA

The Supreme Court on Monday criticised an Andhra Pradesh High Court order granting interim protection from arrest to YSCRP MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, accused of destroying an EVM and VVPAT machine at a polling booth in Macherla Assembly constituency.

A vacation bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta saw the video of the May 13 incident and termed it a “sheer mockery of the justice system”.

The bench barred Reddy’s entry to the vote counting centre for the constituency on June 4.

“…We request the High Court to dispose of the petition… listed on 6/6/2024 on its own merits, without being influenced by its earlier observation, granting interim protection,” the bench said. The court was hearing pleas filed by TDP polling agent Namburi Seshagiri Rao.