Andhra Pradesh HC restrained the State Election Commission from using the mobile application e-Watch for the upcoming Gram Panchayat Elections in AP

On Tuesday, A Division Bench of CJ Arup Kumar Goswami restrained the State Election Commission from using the mobile application e-Watch for the upcoming Gram Panchayat Elections in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh HC ordered the State Election Commission to respond to the security concerns raised against the application.

The Petitioner Angrekula Nageswaro approached the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution on the ground that the launch of E-watch was not in compliant with the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 and the Andhra Pradesh Cyber Security Police, 2017.

E-Watch was launched for reporting violations of Model Code of Conduct and to curb malpractices during the upcoming Panchayat elections in the State. Necessary Security Audit Certification is yet to be obtained and without such certificate, it will be impermissible for the State Election Commission to use the Application: said the petitioner

The Petitioner also argued that there are other existing applications developed by the Election Commission of India (c-VIGIL) and the Panchayat Raj Department, State of Andhra Pradesh (NIGHAA).

Earlier on 5th of February, Senior Advocate C Sumon, representing the State government informed the Court that the State Election Commission had already written a letter to the director of the Andhra Pradesh Technology Services Limited (APTSL), requesting to “issue a Security Audit Certificate” which will take around 4-5 days,

The Counsel representing Election Commission said “that he is not aware” about the development and prayed for time to take instructions which were given.

The Court asked the State Election Commission to clarify about the same and posted the case for further hearing on February 17.

When the matter heard on 9th of February, the Court asked the State Election Commission whether or not it had any objection to use of existing applications, c-VIGIL and NIGHAA to which the SEC responded that it has no objection.

The State counsel meanwhile stated that the APTSL has raised security concerns about e-Watch.

Therefore the Court asked the State Election Commission to clarify about the same and posted the case for further hearing on February 17.

The stay on the use of e-Watch will continue till further orders.