Election Commission responsible for spreading Covid-19, should probably be booked for murder: Madras HC

Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said, “You (ECI) are the only institution responsible for the situation that we are in today.”

Shivani
Published on: 26 April 2021 10:39 AM GMT
Election Commission responsible for spreading Covid-19, should probably be booked for murder: Madras HC
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The Madras High Court on Monday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is singularly responsible for spreading Covid-19 and murder charges should probably be imposed on it for its "irresponsible" behaviour.

Madras High Court blames EC for Covid spread

Criticising the ECI for not stopping political parties from violating the Covid protocols, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said, "You (ECI) are the only institution responsible for the situation that we are in today."

"You have been singularly lacking any kind of exercise of authority. You have not taken measures against political parties holding rallies despite every order of this court saying 'maintain Covid protocol, maintain Covid protocol'," the court said, asking whether the poll watchdog "was on another planet when poll rallies were held".

Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Ramamoorthy were hearing a petition filed by the state transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar seeking directions to the ECI to follow certain measures during the counting of votes on May 2 at his Karur constituency, where a total of 77 candidates had contested.

Reminding the counsel of ECI that it is all about "survival and protection" now and that "everything else comes next", the court further said that it would issue orders to stop counting if ECI fails to prepare a blueprint before May 2 on how Covid protocols will be maintained during the process. This needs to be done to ensure that "this state does not succumb to your idiosyncrasies any further," the HC said.

It added, "Politics or no politics, whether the counting takes place in a staggered manner or deferred…At no cost, the counting of votes on May 2 result in being a catalyst to a further surge. Public health is of paramount importance and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard…"

The case will be heard next on April 30.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed the HC order. "Welcome Madras HC order which says EC cannot escape responsibility for the Covid spike during polls," she was quoted as saying by PTI.

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Shivani

Shivani

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