‘COVID management not our problem’: EC tells SC on Madras HC’s critical remarks

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the management of COVID-19 wasn’t its problem, reported PTI. The poll body made the statement during a hearing in the SC regarding its plea against the Madras High Court. 

The HC had made critical remarks against it for failure to maintain COVID-19 protocols during poll campaigns. It had called EC the “most irresponsible institution” and that it should be put up on “murder charges”. The Election Commission had moved the top court on Saturday.

Also read: TMC candidate dies of COVID, widow wants murder case against EC

The EC said it doesn’t have staff to contain the rallies and that there was an assumption that it had responsibility for COVID management, the news agency reported. 

The SC bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said it doesn’t want to demoralise high courts as they are vital pillars of democracy. It told the EC to take the remarks in the “right spirit”. 

“Line has to be drawn somewhere,” the election body said.

The top court noted that it will take into account the EC’s grievances and will try to balance between the rights of the poll panel and the high courts. It also told senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the poll panel, that the Madras High Court’s “effort was not to run down institution.”

The top court said seeking relief that media should not report on observations is ‘too far fetched’ and it should be able to report everything to create accountability: It said that the media is an important and powerful watchdog in democracy and cannot be stopped from reporting discussions in higher courts.

Also read: Enforcing COVID norms is responsibility of state authorities: EC

The SC’s observation came as India is hit hard by an aggressive second wave of COVID-19, with more than 300,000 cases and 3,000 deaths being reported daily. As the cases rose across India, Assembly elections were held in four states, including Tamil Nadu’ and in the union territory of Puducherry. The votes were counted on Sunday.