Plea in SC seeks strict enforcement, adherence to COVID-19 guidelines during upcoming Assembly elections

Amid concerns over the increasing number of Omicron cases in the country, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Election Commission to issue strict guidelines for the upcoming Assembly elections.

New Delhi: Amid concerns over the increasing number of Omicron cases in the country, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Election Commission to issue strict guidelines for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Pointing out that Assembly elections will be held in February-March in 2022 in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the petition stated that rallies, processions and other campaigning activities are being carried out by political parties on a large scale. The PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of advocate Vishal Tiwari.

It states that the increasing number of cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have made elections a matter of grave concern. Referring to assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry this year, the petitioner said that even earlier necessary steps were not taken and the result of that negligence has been seen by everyone. It further stated that strict guidelines should be issued for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The petition further stated that in view of public health, it was necessary to ban the ongoing campaigning activities such as processions and public meetings.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court urged the Election Commission to postpone Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh at least by one or two months to avoid a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.