Reinstated by High court, Ramesh Kumar says only Constitution is permanent

Vijayawada: N Ramesh Kumar, who has been reinstated as the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner by the High Court, will resume work from the commission's office in Vijayawada from Monday.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Ramesh Kumar, who is currently in Hyderabad, said he would go to Vijayawada on Monday and attend to his work. Asked if he has to resume charge afresh, he said: “I resumed charge after the High Court reinstated me.”

He said all-party meeting would soon be convened to discuss the way forward and the election process would be restarted at the earliest upon return of normalcy.

Welcoming the verdict, advocate Yogesh Tandava who was the first to file a public interest litigation on the sacking of Ramesh Kumar, said the court had once again established in clear terms that holding free and fair elections is part of the “basic structure” of the Constitution and that it has to be protected forever.

Ramesh Kumar said in a statement that “individuals are not permanent, but constitutional institutions and the values they represent alone are permanent. Those who have taken an oath of office to protect Constitution have a greater responsibility to continue to protect and safeguard these institutions and their integrity.”