Election Commission officers should be booked for murder: Madras HC

Slamming the Election Commission of India over the political rallies during the second wave of Covid, the Madras High court said that Election Commission officers should be booked on murder charges and also asked the commission if they were on another planet when political rallies were being held.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu):The Madras High Court on Monday strongly pulled up the Election Commission of India for allowing political rallies even as the country is battling a deadly second wave of COVID-19. Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee reprimanded the Election Commission for failing to ensure COVID-19 norms were followed during rallies, remarking that Election Commission is “singularly responsible” for the second wave of COVID-19.

"Election Commission officers should be booked on murder charges probably,” Justice Sanjib Banerjee remarked. When the election commission’s counsel said that measures have been taken to curb the spread of COVID-19, the Madras High Court Chief Justice remarked: "Were you on another planet when political rallies were being held?"

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"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'll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees,” Chief Justice Banerjee told the Election Commission.

The court also slammed Election Commission for 'irresponsible behaviour which led to COVID spread in the state'. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjeeb Banerjee and Justice Senthil Kumar said that they're the responsible for current COVID condition prevailing in the state.

The bench also warned the ECI to take proper precautionary measures on the counting days and to follow proper sanitation procedures in all counting centres across the state.

The counting for the 234 Tamil Nadu assembly seats will take place on May 2.