EC files 14 cases against parties in West Bengal for Covid violations

The Election Commission has lodged 14 cases and issued over 30 show cause notices to political parties in West Bengal for violating Covid-19 norms.

Of the 14 FIRs lodged, two cases have been filed each against the Bhartiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress under section 51(B) of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and one each against the Communist Party of India (M) and the Indian National Congress—all in Birbhum district.51(B) refers to violations of government directions that is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years. In seven other cases filed under the NDMA Act, no party names have been mentioned. These seven cases of Covid violation also occurred in Birbhum district. One complaint has also been filed separately under Section 188 of the Indian Penal code and section 51B of the NDMA Act against the BJP for violations noted in Murshidabad district.

The said section of the IPC provides for imprisonment of either up to six months, or a fine and Court cases apart, 31 show cause notices were issued to political parties for COVID norm violations in campaigns and rallies in North 24 Parganas district, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Dakshin Dinajpur.

IN toto,12 notices have been shot off to the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, eight to the BJP, six to the Congress party and four to the CPI(M).

CPI(ML), RSP, SUCI (Communist), KPP(U) and an independent candidate also earned a notice each for violation of pandemic related norms.

ET gathers that at a stocktaking meeting held by the ECI on Friday on phase 7 and 8 polls, strict directions were given to the state and district electoral machinery to push up action against any further COVID 19 related violations.

The Chief Electoral Officer and the district election officers were directed to lodge FIRs against violators under both- the NDMA act, 2005 and the State Disaster Management Act.

They have also been asked to give a daily count on FIRs lodged and notices issued from now on.

The ECI has further directed that drones should be extensively deployed for the next two phases of the polls to check against any violation of COVID related guidelines and the EC’s latest orders on the subject.

On Thursday, the ECI had ordered a complete ban on road shows, pad yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies with immediate effect in West Bengal.

It also said that no public meeting with a gathering of over 500 persons would be permitted unless COVID norms on social distancing are followed.

Phases 7 and 8 of the West Bengal assembly elections are scheduled on April 26 and 29.

An upsurge in COVID cases in the state is being attributed by many to the heavy crowding seen in election campaign and the lack of adherence to COVID 19 protocols in the same.

The Calcutta High Court also this week made some strong observations on the same expressing dissatisfaction with enforcement of COVID norms in the ongoing polls by the ECI machinery.