Chennai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) moved a plea Friday in the Madras High Court. In the plea, the Election Commission sought to refrain the media from reporting oral comments of judges. This move comes days after the high court pulled up the poll panel for allowing campaign rallies in four states and a Union territory. The four states are Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. All political parties including those in power at the Centre and the four states flouted Covid-19 rules with impunity while campaigning. The polls came to an end Thursday with the completion of the eighth and final phase of elections in West Bengal.
The poll body’s plea comes against the backdrop of Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee’s remark that Election Commission (EC) officials should probably be ‘booked on murder charges’ for allowing political rallies during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also said that the EC had failed in its duties miserably to conduct the polls and the campaigning following Covid-19 guidelines. It was after his observations which probably ‘forced’ the EC to announce protocols on the day of counting, which is Sunday.
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The poll panel has said that there will be no victory celebrations or processions during counting or after the results are announced. It has also said that a candidate or his/her representative will be allowed with only two companions to collect their certificates. The poll panel has said that proper social distancing must be maintained in all counting centres.