Madras High Court holds Election Commission responsible for 2nd Covid wave, says officials should be booked for murder! On Monday he rebuked the Election Commission for allowing political rallies during the pandemic and the Chief Justice told the Election Commission body, “Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of COVID-19.”
Mass political rallies were held in different parts of India amid a fatal second wave of COVID-19. It was observed that there was no masking or distancing while human masses thronged together and these gatherings coincided with a sudden surge in India of COVID. The Madras HC also stated that the Election Commission officials should be booked for murder for not stopping the massive rallies.
“Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?” the Chief Justice of Madras High Court asked ECI when its counsel said steps were taken to control the spread of COVID-19.
The EC is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid-19 by not stopping political parties from holding election rallies. The Madras High Court also warned the EC that it will stop counting on May 2 if they did not put forth a proper plan to ensure that the COVID-19 protocol is followed.
The Madras High Court said that public health is of supreme importance and that it was distressing to see that constitutional authorities have to be reminded of it. “The situation now is of survival and protection. Everything else comes next”, the Chief Justice said
“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,” the Chief Justice said.
The Madras High Court went on to instruct the Election Commission of India and Tamil Nadu Chief Election Officer to discuss with the Health Secretary and draft a COVID-19 protocol for the counting day and submit the same on April 30.
The irresponsible behavior of the leadership in the country in the center of the storm of the fatal pandemic has cost lives. The COVID wave is rising up dangerously high in India with no signs of crashing soon. Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding epidemiologist and health economist and a Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington DC spoke to India Today and predicted that India would reach its peak of COVID in the beginning of May, while expected COVID to quieten down by the mid of May
He estimated that a frightening number of million lives would be lost by August, and the total number of deaths estimated deaths in the globe would reach 5 million by August. It is hoped ha such gloomy predictions will not come true if all follow the COVID protocols, social distancing, stop their massive crowds with the herding that made a mess of things, and take preventive vaccines and medicines.