In a major setback to YSR Congress party, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday adjourned the plea of Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy seeking permission to campaign in the by-elections through electronic media and print media to June 21.
Since the by-elections campaign ends on June 10, Jagan will not be able to address the voters as intended. The court has directed the Principal Home Secretary to file a counter petition in this regard. However, the Advocate General told the court that since Jagan was not a political prisoner, he could not be given permission to campaign in the by-elections.
It may be mentioned, Jagan, in his petition, appealed to the court to provide him an opportunity to speak to the people through electronic and print media under the `Right to Expression’ enshrined in the Article 19 (1) of the Indian constitution. In the petition, Jagan made Principal Secretary (Home), Director General (Prisons), Inspector General and DGP as respondents and sought their permission to speak before media.
–Agencies