The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought Action-Taken Reports (ATRs) from the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Union Home Secretary over violation of Covid-19 guidelines in several States where elections are being held.
The commission sought the report within five weeks, taking cognisance of a report filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.
Tripathy pointed out that unregulated election rallies, mass protests and get-togethers defeat the slogan of “Do Gaj Duri, Mask hei Zaruri” and is responsible for surge of coronavirus cases in India. Due to negligence, inaction and failure of Election Commission of India, Central and State Governments to check, regulate political and electoral process, infections have been increasing and people are suffering immensely, he stated.
Seeking intervention of the NHRC, Tripathy pointed out that that more than forty-one countries in the world have delayed and postponed their elections.
