Allahabad HC issues notice to state election commission over death of 135 panchayat poll staff

The Allahabad High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the state election commission, seeking an explanation for the failure to enforce Covid protocols during Panchayat elections.

The Allahabad High Court has taken judicial notice of a news article in the Hindi daily ‘Amar Ujala' that 135 students, ‘shiksha mitras', and investigators appointed to election duty died during the state's Panchayat elections due to Covid-19. Hearing a PIL, a division bench comprising Justice Siddhartha Varma and Justice Ajit Kumar further directed the state election commission to “take immediate measures in remaining phases of panchayat elections to ensure Covid guidelines are compiled with, else action would be taken against officers involved in the election process.” The Allahabad High Court issued a show-cause notice to the Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission, asking it to explain why it failed to enforce Covid protocols during Panchayat elections and prosecute those responsible for such violations.