Telangana high court upholds Election Commission’s stand on security

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court upheld the contention of the Election Commission and the police that they cannot provide security to all contesting candidates who claim they a threat and seek security cover.

Justice P. Naveen Rao took the decision while hearing a petition by an independent candidate contesting from the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency.

Candidate K. Venkat Narayana said he was a social activist and whistleblower who had unearthed many scams and saved hundreds of crores of rupees to the state exchequer. He contended that he was facing a threat from the people he had exposed, and sought security.

Election Commission counsel submitted that it cannot direct the police to provide security on a mere application by a candidate. Police counsel S. Sharat said the competent authority has to inquire into the threat.

He said Mr Narayana had made a plea in 2016 and the Intelligence IG had concluded that he faced no threat. “Based on this, we rejected the plea,” he said.