EC officials should be ‘booked on murder charges’ for allowing political rallies: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court today slammed the Election Commission of India for allowing political rallies to be conducted amid the raging coronavirus pandemic in the country, and observed that the polls body officers should probably be "booked on murder charges".

A bench of the High Court, headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, made the remarks while hearing a petition on facilities ensuring Covid-19 safety norms are followed during elections in Tamil Nadu's Karur constituency.

"Were you in another planet when the election rallies were held?" the Chief Justice asked the ECI lawyer, given the rising Covid-19 cases.

The bench noted that despite court orders, the EC failed to enforce Covid-appropriate protocols during the polls rallies conducted by political parties. Face masks or sanitisers were not used, nor was social distancing maintained during election campaigning, the court noted, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

The Madras High Court directed the Commission to submit a plan by April 30 to ensure Covid-19 protocols are followed on May 2 when votes for the southern state assembly elections will be counted.

The High Court asked the EC and Tamil Nadu's chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo to hold consultations with the state Health Secretary and come up with the plan on the stipulated date, saying failing to do so will result in the court stopping the counting of votes on May 2.

"The situation now is of survival and protection, everything else comes second," the court said.

"Public health is of paramount importance, and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard. It is only when a citizen survives that he will be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees," Justice Banerjee said.

Tamil Nadu, along with four other Indian states, including West Bengal, witnessed intensive campaigning for polling in assembly elections in March and April.