COVID- Submit Details Regarding Facilities, Medicines, Infrastructure & Vaccination Drive: Calcutta High Court To WB Govt

The Calcutta High Court on Monday (May 10) directed the State Government to file an affidavit disclosing the exact state of affairs as well as the facilities, medicines, infrastructure, and the vaccination drive already started within the State.

The Bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Shampa Sarkar was hearing a plea filed in connection with the surge in the Covid19 cases within the State during the Assembly Elections.

Noting that the issues raised in the instant Public Interest Litigation have been diluted to some extent after the declaration of the Assembly result and the role of the Election Commission as on the date is over, the Court said,

"We feel that due to the surge in the Covid19 cases within the State, the State shall ensure all facilities, treatments and the infrastructure required to combat such situation, the State shall ensure all facilities, treatments and the infrastructure required to combat such situation"

In the meantime, the State has been directed to also ensure the extension of adequate medical facilities to the affected persons and speed up the vaccination drive in terms of the various circulars and/or the Government Orders issued in this regard.

During the election campaign, the Calcutta High Court had asked Chief Election Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer to utilize such Government officials and police force as may be necessary to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 Protocols & guidelines.

The Calcutta High Court had also issued directions to the District Magistrate of all districts and Chief Election Officer, West Bengal, to ensure that COVID guidelines for conducting elections are implemented in a strict manner in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the State.

Further, the Calcutta High Court on Friday (April 30) expressed its hope that political parties, their candidates, and the supporters would adhere to the COVID-19 Protocols on counting Day (May 2) keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal & Justice Arijit Banerjee was presiding over a public interest litigation petition filed with regard to adherence to the COVID-19 protocols at the time of counting of votes and declaration of the results of the West Bengal Assembly Election, 2021.

The Election Commission on Thursday (22nd April) faced censure from the Calcutta High Court over its handling of the elections in West-Bengal amid the COVID crisis.

The Bench of Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee remarked,

"We are unable to reconcile the fact that the Election Commission of India is not able to update us as to what action by way of enforcement of the circulars has been obtained."

Further, the Court underlined that issuance of circulars and holding of meetings by themselves do not discharge the onerous responsibility of the Election Commission of India and officers under its command in the due performance of not only the statutory power and authority under the Representation of People Act, 1950 and the Representation of People Act, 1951.

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