Job doesn’t end with issuing circulars, Calcutta HC tears into Election Commission – Times of India

Kolkata News

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court told the Election Commission on Thursday that its responsibility did not end with merely “issuing circulars” and “holding meetings”. It would step in and “act like TN Seshan”, the HC said, if the EC failed to enforce Covid-safety protocols during electioneering in Bengal.
Seshan, the tough Chief Election Commissioner between 1990 and 1996, had strictly enforced the model code of conduct and ushered in a host of electoral reforms.
“Issuing circulars and holding meetings by themselves do not discharge the onerous responsibility of the EC,” a division bench of Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee said, adding that it was “unable to reconcile (with) the fact” that the EC was unable to give any “update on action… (and) enforcement” of its own circulars.
The bench then directed the EC to respond “with a very short affidavit” on Friday morning and observed that the poll panel could not just frame rules and ask people to adhere to them while its officers sat “in their chambers”. It was not “satisfied” with the steps taken by the EC, the HC said in its order. “We are sure that the circulars are not merely advisories to be wrapped up by political parties or those involved in political propaganda or even the public at large,” the court added.
Bengal chief electoral officer Aariz Aftab earlier this week submitted a detailed response to the high court on the Covid-safety measures the EC had taken, which included a ban on campaigning between 7pm and 10am. The affidavit also mentioned the guidelines given to parties and their star campaigners.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/job-doesnt-end-with-issuing-circulars-hc-tears-into-ec/articleshow/82204635.cms