Madras HC holds EC responsible for 2nd Covid wave

The Madras High Court has said that The Election Commission is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid and should probably be booked for murder, in the sharpest criticism yet of crowded campaigns for the five state polls that continued in the middle of raging virus cases. The court has threatened to stop the counting of votes on Sunday if a "blueprint" is not in place.The Election Commission will react after it sees the order. The election body had failed to enforce Covid safety rules like masks, sanitisers and distancing during campaigning despite court orders, said the High Court.

"Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held," Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee questioned. The High Court also asked for a plan to enforce Covid rules on May 2 - the day of the results - by Friday. Without it, the counting could also be stopped, said the High Court. "Public health is paramount. Distressing that constitutional authorities ought to be reminded. It is only when a citizen survives that he'll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees," the court said. 

Covid cases have exploded alongside elections held in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry. On Monday, India reported 3.52 lakh cases and 2,812 deaths in 24 hours, another grim record. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice S Ramamoorthy made their observations while hearing a public interest writ from the AIADMK’s candidate from Tamil Nadu’s Karur and the state’s transport minister MR Vijayabaskar where he sought directions from authorities to ensure fair counting of votes on May 2 in his constituency by ensuring proper arrangements were made keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic.