The Election Commission of India on Thursday moved the Supreme Court against a Madhya Pradesh High Court order restricting physical politi...
The Election Commission of India on Thursday moved the Supreme Court against a Madhya Pradesh High Court order restricting physical political rallies in nine districts of the state due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Hindustan Times reported. Bye-polls to 28 Assembly seats in the state will be held on November 3.
On Wednesday, the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered nine districts under its jurisdiction to grant permission for public rallies only if virtual meetings are not possible. The districts include Gwalior, Guna, Morena, Bhind, Ashok Nagar, Datia, Shivpuri, Sheopur and Vidisha. The order also directed the political party or candidate holding the rally to deposit money “sufficient to purchase double the number of masks and sanitisers required for protecting those attending the event”.
The decision of the district magistrate permitting any political party to conduct physical rallies should become effective only after the Election Commission approved it in writing, the court said, while hearing a petition filed by Gwalior-based advocate Ashish Pratap Singh.
However, the poll body in its petition said the High Court order was passed without any regard to the commission’s guidelines on gatherings and the coronavirus protocol, which allowed such congregations of over 100 people with restrictions. The conduct and management of elections...
