Double Loss For Kanagaraj?

The brief stint of Madras High Court retired Judge Justice Kanagaraj as the State Election Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh proved to be a double whammy for him as he lost the Constitutional position and has also been directed to repay all the bills made during his stay in Vijayawada. The court asked Kanagaraj to pay from his pocket the expenditure he had made in the position of the SEC.

At the behest of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Kanagaraj rushed to Vijayawada from Chennai in no time and was ripped off the post with the same speed.

Annoyed over the cancellation of the local body polls without any information to the state government, Jagan expelled incumbent SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar by promulgating an ordinance overnight. However, with Ramesh Kumar challenging the state government’s action, the court declared that Kanagaraj’s appointment was invalid.

The YCP government tried to prove its argument in the court on the appointment of Justice Kanagaraj many times but the court stuck to its decision and asked the AP government to reinstate Ramesh Kumar as the SEC, leaving the retired judge in a confusion. Then Kanagaraj left to his native place, Chennai.

He stayed in Vijayawada as the SEC for three months during which an apartment was taken on rent for Rs 1.11 lakh per month towards his accommodation. There are reports that six months of rent is still pending payment. Apart from this, over Rs 35 lakh public money was spent on modification and furniture of the apartment during his stay.

Further, Justice Kanagaraj intervened in the controversy that erupted between the YCP government and Ramesh Kumar and filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. He reportedly spent few lakhs to hire an advocate and on other related issues.

The AP High Court made it clear that all the money spent by Kanagaraj should be reimbursed by him in the position of a private individual but not as a government official. Further, it also said that the YCP government need not take up the responsibility of all that Kanagaraj had spent.

Recently, when some staff reached the apartment in which Justice Kanagaraj stayed to vacate it, the owner prevented them from entering the house and asked them to clear the dues first and then take the furniture. Not able to understand what should be done, the staff left the place empty-handed.

Now, it is to be seen who will reimburse the expenditure of Kanagaraj.