The Election Commission of India (ECI) has spoken to the Supreme Court against the comment made by Madras High Court that the ECI is solemnly behind the widespread transmission of COVID 19 in India and that it should probably be put on murder charges for lacking to make sure conformity of COVID 19 protocol during election rallies. The appeal has been filed to oppose the order of Madras High Court on April 30 which had refused to entertain ECI’s appeal in this matter. The ECI asked for directions to be issued to all the media houses to enclose their reports for the comments recorded in order or judgments and to abstain from announcing to the public on oral observations made during court happenings in a case concerning COVID protocol for vote counting in Tamil Nadu.
“The consequence of sticking 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 controlled without any distancing norms being maintained and in wanton disregard of the other items of the protocol,” the court had said.
“The Hon’ble Court further contended that, ‘ Public Health is of paramount significance and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard. It should be realized that, is only when citizens survive that they enjoy the other rights that this democratic republic guarantees unto them. The current condition is now one of survival and protection and, everything else comes thereafter,”.
Further, it was decided that the appeal will be heard by a Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah at 10:30 am on Monday. The poll body stated that the appeal is against the gratuitous, undisguised depreciating, and belittling remarks made by the Madras High Court.
