The Election Commission is solely responsible for the second wave of Covid and may most likely be charged with murder, the Madras High Court said today, in the harshest condemnation yet of crowded campaigns for five state elections that persisted in the midst of raging virus outbreaks. If a “blueprint” is not in effect by Sunday, the court has threatened to halt the counting of ballots.
According to reports, the Election Commission will respond after it receives the order.
“The second wave of COVID-19 is solely your institution’s responsibility. Possibly, your officers should be charged with murder “The Election Commission was told by the Madras High Court.
Despite court orders, the election body refused to follow Covid safety laws such as gloves, sanitizers, and distance while campaigning, according to the High Court.
Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee asked, “Are you on another planet when the election rallies were held?”
The High Court also requested a schedule by Friday for enforcing Covid rules on May 2 – the day of the results. The counting could even be halted without it, according to the High Court.
“The public’s wellbeing is critical. It’s troubling that constitutional bodies should be reminded of their responsibilities. Only by surviving would a person be able to enjoy the protections that a democratic republic offers “According to the court.
Orders should arrive later today. The High Court was hearing a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Transport Minister MR Vijayabaskar, who wanted Covid conformity in counting halls in the Karur constituency, where he ran for office.
Covid incidents have erupted in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, all of which are holding elections. In just 24 hours, India recorded 3.52 lakh cases and 2,812 deaths, setting a new low.
With only three more rounds of polling left in Bengal’s record eight-phase election and all other states having voted, the Election Commission halted roadshows and demonstrations and reduced public meetings to 500 people last Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared shortly before the election body’s order that he was cancelling his campaign visit to Bengal the next day due to a Covid meeting. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked whether the Election Commission had waited until the Prime Minister’s decision to enforce Covid campaigning restrictions.
She also chastised the Election Commission for denying her repeated requests to combine the last few polling rounds in Bengal.
