Citing COVID-19, retired govt. doctor moves HC for postponement of polls
The Hindu
The judges accept a request for an early hearing on the PIL petition
A retired joint director of the Medical Services Recruitment Board has filed a public interest litigation petition in the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission to postpone the urban local body polls till the COVID-19 situation improves.
Acting Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu on Wednesday accepted a request made by senior counsel S. Prabakaran, representing the PIL petitioner, M. Nakkeeran of Chennai, to hear the case on Thursday or Friday.
In his affidavit, the litigant stated that he had 35 years of medical experience, including 31 years in government service. Claiming that the COVID-19 positivity rate in the State had increased from 1% on December 30 to 17% on January 17, the petitioner said there was widespread community transmission of the novel coronavirus, and this was evident from a 17-fold increase in the positivity rate in 20 days.