In the heart of Andhra Pradesh, a legal battle unfolded this week as residents from Pendurthi mandal filed a petition in the Andhra High Court against the ongoing ward reorganisation process of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). The petitioners argued that the exercise is in violation of central guidelines, as the 2027 Census process has already commenced.
M Parvathi and M Appalaraju, residents of Pendurthi, alleged that the state government unilaterally proceeded with the reorganisation, disregarding Union government norms which state that no changes should be made to ward boundaries after December 31, 2025. They contended that this violation could potentially compromise the accuracy of the upcoming 2027 Census.
During the court hearing on April 22, Justice Gannamaneni Ramakrishna Prasad directed the government to submit complete details regarding the issue and adjourned the case until Thursday. The petitioners’ counsel argued that due procedure was ignored in this matter and that the government’s actions were arbitrary. He also highlighted that no final decision had been made on merging nearby areas like Pendurthi and other unspecified localities.
The outcome of this legal proceeding will have significant implications for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, potentially impacting the ward boundaries leading up to the 2027 Census.
