On Monday, the Madras High Court came down steadily on the Election Commission of India for allowing political rallies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee seemed upset and said the Election Commission’s counsel that their institution (ECI) is eminently responsible for the second wave of COVID-19.
The Chief Justice went to a stretch of orally saying that the Officers of EC should be booked on murder chargers probably. He also observed that the Commission had failed to enforce the norms of COVID regarding wearing masks, using sanitizers, and maintaining social distancing during the election campaign, regardless of the court’s order. Further, the Chief Justice asked the counsel of the ECI, whether they were on another planet when the election rallies were held? The court warned that it will stop the counting which was scheduled for 2nd May 2021, if the ECI won’t put on in place the blueprint of a plan to ensure the following of COVID-19 protocol on the day of counting. At last, the Chief Justice mentioned that the situation is of survival and protection and everything else comes next.
