Elections Amid Covid
Media can't be stopped from reporting: Supreme Court to Election Commission
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Monday told India's poll body that media can't be stopped from reporting any court hearing days after the Election Commission of India (ECI) complained about being "castigated without any evidence", while holding the assembly elections this year in the shadow of Covid-19.
"The media is powerful and communicating what happens in court. Not only our judgements, but raising of questions, answers and dialogues is a concern for citizens. Media not reporting observations is far-fetched," the Supreme Court said as quoted by NDTV.
The poll body last week approached the top court after the ECI was slammed by the Madras High Court for allegedly causing the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country through its handling of the elections.
Slamming the poll body over its way of conducting elections in various parts of India, the Madras High Court on Monday held ECI officers solely responsible for the Covid-19 second wave, which has crippled the country.
"Election Commission singularly responsible for Covid-19 second wave, officers should be booked for murder probably," the high court had said, coming down heavily upon the poll body.
Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, who was visibly angry, had asked the EC counsel as quoted by Live Law, "Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?"
"Public health is of paramount importance and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard. It is only when a citizen survives that he'll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees," the Chief Justice had said and added, " The situation now is of survival and protection. Everything else comes next."
Days after it was rebuked, the Supreme Court had requested the Madras High Court to restrain media from covering oral conversations in the courtroom.
The assembly elections were held in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between Mar 27 and Apr 29.
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