(1.) As the issue involved in all these petitions is common and the proceedings impugned therein are one and the same, they are heard together and are being decided by this common order.
(2.) All the above writ petitions have been filed challenging the Ordinance No.5 of 2020 i.e., Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (for short, 'the impugned Ordinance') dated 10.04.2020, promulgated by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, substituting Section 200 of the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (for short, 'the APPR Act'); G.O.Ms.No.617 Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (E & R) Department, dated 10.04.2020 has also been assailed, by which the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Salaries and Allowances, Conditions of Service, Tenure of State Election Commissioner) Rules, 2020 (for short, 'the New Rules, 2020') were notified replacing the existing Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Salaries and Allowances and Conditions of Service of State Election Commissioner) Rules, 1994 (for short, 'the Old Rules, 1994'). The consequential notification in G.O.Ms.No.618, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (E & R) Department, dated 10.04.2020, directing that the incumbent State Election Commissioner (for short, 'the SEC') Dr. N. Ramesh Kumar, (hereinafter referred to as, 'Mr.A') ceases to hold the office prior to completion of the tenure, and another G.O.Ms.No.619, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (E & R) Department, dated 11.4.2020, appointing Justice V. Kanagaraj (hereinafter referred to as, Mr.B'), Retired Judge of the High Court of Madras, as SEC of Andhra Pradesh, for a period of three years from the date of assumption of office, in consequence to cessation of office by Mr.A have also been assailed. The facts and averments in the respective writ petitions pleaded to challenge those notifications are referred in succeeding paragraphs.
(3.) W.P.No.8163 of 2020: