Andhra SEC can t use eWatch app until Feb 17 as HC adjourns case
By IANS |
Published on
Tue, Feb 9 2021 21:03 IST |
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Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar as the State Election Commissioner (SEC). (File Photo: IANS). Image Source: IANS News
Amaravati, Feb 9 : In a major setback to Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, the high court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on eWatch , an election monitoring app, until February 17, rendering it useless until then.
The court said the SEC cannot use the app until it procures a security certificate, and directed the SEC to reply to the queries raised by the Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS), the nodal agency for conducting security audit and issuing a security certificate, without which no app can come into play.
Andhra Pradesh HC directs SEC not to use eWatch
Updated Feb 10, 2021, 12:56 am IST
Government pleader informed the court that state Technology Services carried out a preliminary test and noticed security concerns in the app
The court inquired whether the state government was having any objection if the SEC intended to use the app developed by it. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the State Election Commission not to use the newly developed software application called ‘eWatch’ following security concerns and posted the next hearing in the case to February. 17.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arup Kumar Goswami and Ch. Praveen Kumar held the hearing on Tuesday on a petition filed raising objection on usage of ‘eWatch’ meant to keep check on poll related irregularities, as it was developed by a private agency.
Andhra Pradesh HC stays launch of citizen reporting app by State Election Commission
February 8, 2021
The Andhra Pradesh High Court stayed the state’s election commission from launching a mobile app developed to report model code violations in the upcoming Gram Panchayat elections in the state, until February 9. The app, called e-Watch Online was launched by the the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on February 3, but immediately drew ire from the YSRCP, who claimed that the app was designed to favour the Telugu Desam Party.
Subsequently, a number of petitions were filed challenging the app’s rollout. One petition sought the High Court to direct the State Election Commission not to use the e-Watch app, claiming that the app was yet to obtain a necessary Security Audit Certificate, and was not in compliance with the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013, and the Andhra Pradesh Cyber Security Policy, 2017.