EC officials should be booked for murder: Poll Panel moves Supreme Court against Madras High Court observation

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday (May 1) moved Supreme Court against Madras High Court observations that the ballot panel was singularly accountable for surge in coronavirus COVID-19 circumstances throughout the nation. The ballot panel has challeneged the Madras High Court observation the place it blasted it for its failure to take care of COVID-19 protocols. 

The ballot panel’s attraction against the Madras High Court’s refusal to entertain its petition opposing the crucial remarks will be heard by a bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud on March 3. We have filed an attraction against the excessive court docket orders,” the counsel for the Election Commission, Amit Sharma, instructed PTI.

The Madras High Court had on April 26 castigated the ECI over the COVID-19 second wave within the nation, holding it singularly accountable for the unfold, known as it “the most irresponsible institution” and even mentioned its officials might be booked below homicide fees. The ECI permitting political events to take out rallies and conferences had led to the unfold of the pandemic, the court docket had mentioned.

The improvement comes a day after the Supreme Court on April 30 suggested High Courts to keep away from pointless ‘off-the-cuff remarks’ throughout hearings, a name that got here against the backdrop of stinging observations made by a few of them against the Centre and state governments over their dealing with of the escalating COVID-19 disaster. 

In Chennai, the ECI’s counsel instructed the High Court that feedback of homicide fees against its officials and the establishment being solely accountable for the surge in COVID-19 circumstances had triggered nice injury and tarnished the ballot physique’s picture.

The name by the apex court docket that it expects a “degree of respect and restraint” for the reason that remarks might have critical ramifications additionally got here on a day when the Election Commission of India (ECI) moved the Madras High Court looking for to restrain the media from reporting its sturdy oral observations on the ballot physique’s function in conducting elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The ECI’s plea was, nevertheless, rejected by the excessive court docket. 

(With PTI inputs)

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