SURYADEVARA VENKATA RAO Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present writ petition is filed by way of Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to "declare the G.O.MS.No.623 dated 23.04.2020 issued by the Respondent No.1 directing its Officers to paint the Village Panchayat Office buildings / sachivalayams with the colours mentioned therein which are akin to ruling Y.S.R.C party flag as unconstitutional, illegal, evil practice and contrary to the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 as well as orders in W.P. (PIL) Nos.177 of 2019 and 18 of 2020 dated 10.03.2020 and consequently quash the G.O.MS.No.623 dated 23.04.2020 issued by the Respondents and pass such other order or orders as this Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case."

(2.) The present Public Interest Litigation Petition came to be filed against the background of the earlier Public Interest Litigation Petitions vide W.P.(PIL) Nos.177 of 2019 and 18 of 2020 filed before this Court, inter alia, questioning the action of the Government in painting the Government buildings/Panchayat office buildings with the colours akin to ruling Y.S.R.C party flag, which are Green, White and Blue colour combinations/theme, and the orders passed by this Court dated 10.03.2020 in the said P.I.Ls.

(3.) After considering the submissions made on behalf of the respective parties in the said P.I.Ls, this Court while passing the orders opined, inter alia, that communication of the message by painting Panchayat buildings in the same colour of the party flag, as well the party office create impression of similarity to YSRCP and also influence the mind of the common citizen towards its ideology.