The Madras High Court on Monday lashed out against theElection Commission and said "it is the most irresponsible institution inthe country" who have done nothing to prevent political parties frombreaching Covid-19 protocol.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee andJustice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy while hearing a plea moved by state TransportMinister MR Vijayabhaskhar said: "You (EC) are the only institutionresponsible for the situation we are in today and You have been singularlylacking any kind of exercise of authority. You have not taken measures againstpolitical parties holding rallies despite the court saying "Maintain Covidprotocol, maintain Covid protocol."
The court observed: "We assure you that we will stopcounting if we do not find before May 2 a blueprint on how proper maintenanceof Covid protocol is assured so that this state does not succumb to theidiosyncrasies any further."
The Chief Justice also observed that Public health is ofparamount importance and that it was distressing to remind constitutionalauthorities on the counting and possibilities of a further surge after May 2.
The Tamil Nadu state transport minister had petitionedthe court seeking direction to the Election Commission, to follow a slew ofmeasures in ensuring fairness during the counting of votes on May 2 for Karurconstituency where he had contested the elections as an AIADMK candidate. Therewere 77 candidates in fray at Karur constituency.