The Madras High Court on 26th April held the Election Commission of India responsible for the ongoing coronavirus crisis. In a slamming remarks, Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said “Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of COVID-19”.
He further added, “Your officers should be booked on murder charges probably”.
The Madras High Court also said “the EC allowed the political parties to conduct big rallies which led the surge of Covid-19 cases in the country.”
“Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?”, Chief Justice asked the ECI counsel.
The response came while hearing a public interest writ filed by AIADMK candidate from Karur, Tamil Nadu and state transport minister Vijayabaskar for the April 6th Assembly polls.
Four states of India- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and one union territory, Puducherry hold elections this year.
Following the campaign rallies and the polls the country saw a steep spike in Covid-19 positive cases.
The court further held that t it will stop the counting scheduled for 2nd May if the election commission does not put in place a blueprint of a plan to ensure following of Covid-19 protocol for the day.