Upset over the continuous criticism, Election Commission has moved Madras High Court against the observations blaming that the Election Commission of India is singularly responsible for the second wave of Covid-19 in India and its officials should be booked for murder charges.
Election Commission has also stated in its petition that media must not report oral observations and comments made by the judges during the hearing and should only report observations recorded in the order.
“The media reports have tarnished the image of the ECI as an independent constitutional agency that is entrusted with the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections,” EC said.
The affidavit was submitted by the Chief Electoral Officer at Tamil Nadu, Satyabrata Sahoo which highlighted that the said oral observation was not finally recorded in the order passed that day in the case, which was concerned with the adherence to COVID-19 protocol during the counting of votes in the Karur constituency.
The affidavit stated that the Madras High Court’s observation stating “the institution that is singularly responsible for the situation prevalent today” and the ECI should be put up for murder charges” has caused grave prejudice to the Commission.
It also mentioned that a police complaint was lodged against a Deputy Election Commissioner in connection to the reports on the court remarks.
“These reports have tarnished the image of the ECI as an independent constitutional agency that is entrusted with the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections. Such aspersions have the potential of lowering the faith of the masses in democracy and democratic processes,” the plea said.
The Election Commission went on to submit that no one must be permitted to report on the proceedings of this Court that are not borne out by the record, especially when the detailed order is made available by the Court the same day.
The Election Commission prayers include
- That the Court direct that only what forms part of the record in the present proceedings WP No. 10441/2021 (the Karur case) to be reported by the press and electronic media and further directions may be issued to the media houses to issue necessary clarification in this regard.
- That the Court direct the police not to register any FIR for the offence of murder on the basis of media reports on the oral observations attributed to the Court.