‘Irresponsible’ EC should face murder charges: Madras HC

‘Irresponsible’ EC should face murder charges: Madras HC

Threatens To Stop Counting If Covid Protocol Not Followed

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:27.04.2021

Lambasting the Election Commission for failure to maintain Covid protocol during poll campaigns, the Madras high court on Monday said the EC “should be put up on murder charges…for being the most irresponsible institution.”

“Now we assure you we will stop counting if we do not find before May 2 a blueprint on how proper maintenance of Covid protocol will be maintained so that this state does not succumb to your idiosyncrasies any further,” the judges said in the course of their oral observations.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy even threatened to stop the counting of assembly poll votes slated for May 2. They made the observations while hearing a public interest writ petition filed by TN minister M R Vijayabhaskar, who sought directions to the ECI to ensure fair counting of votes.

“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’ like a broken record,” the bench said.

“The significance of adhering to such protocol may have been lost on the EC going by the puerile silence on the part of the commission as campaigns and rallies were conducted without distancing norms being maintained and in wanton disregard of the other items of the protocol,” it added.

Weigh words before using them: Nadda

Responding to HC observation, BJP’s J P Nadda said, “...People in high and respectable positions should weigh words before using them.” Meanwhile, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee welcomed the observation, which “clearly said the EC cannot escape its responsibility”. P 7

HC: Counting result shouldn’t add to surge

A bit of the observations found mention in the order as well, when the bench said: “At no cost should the counting result in being a catalyst for a further surge – politics or no politics, and whether the counting takes place in a staggered manner or is deferred.”

“Public health is of paramount importance and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard. It is only when citizens survive they enjoy the other rights that this democratic republic guarantees unto them. The situation is now one of survival and protection,” the court said. The judges made the observations while hearing a public interest writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu transport minister M R Vijayabhaskar, who is AIADMK’s candidate in Karur constituency.