“If during the election campaign, candidates, star campaigners or supporters break the rules and don’t wear masks, they should be banned permanently or for a fixed time,” The Petition filed In Delhi HC said.
New Delhi| In the election season, politicians are campaigning among the crowd of thousands of millions without wearing a mask. On the other hand, crores of rupees have been collected from the common citizens in different states so far for not wearing masks. A petition in this regard was heard today in the Delhi High Court. The court has sought answers from the Centre and the Election Commission on the matter.
A petition was filed on 17 March by Vikram Singh, former DGP of UP and chairman of the think tank CASC. The court issued a notice on 22 March, ordering the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Election Commission to file their reply before 30 April. Thereafter, on 23 March, the Central Government issued new Coronavirus guidelines.
“Rules Should Be Same To Everyone”
Advocate Virag Gupta in the Supreme Court said that the petition cited the basic human rights of ‘equality’ and ‘life’ in front of the law and said that the rules should be one for all in the country. “If during the election campaign, candidates, star campaigners or supporters break the rules and don’t wear masks, they should be banned permanently or for a fixed time. The Election Commission should bring awareness through the media about ‘masks’ and ‘social distancing’ in the 5 state assembly elections,” the plea had said.
Also Read: 32 Million Indians Pushed Out of Middle-Class Due To Pandemic, Poverty On Rise: Pew Research
Delhi HC issues notice to Cente & Election Commission, on a plea seeking direction to EC to publish prominently on its website, mobile apps, election material & other platforms, “EC guidelines for conduct of general elections/bye-elections during COVID19” published in Aug 2020 pic.twitter.com/OiafsKD4r5
— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021
Virag is also the author of the book Unmasking VIP. He wrote this book at the time of lockdown last year. Gupta says in this book that these leaders who lead electoral rallies without putting on masks can pose major threats to crores of countrymen and the economy. While the common man is being arrested or being charged with hefty fines for not wearing masks, on the other hand, the leaders are conducting huge rallies and roadshows without putting on masks. The book also includes several images of leaders campaigning in rallies without wearing a mask. It also gives a state-wise account of fine imposed on the general public.
States have collected huge amount from the general public
The Delhi Police collected Rs 2.4 crore from April to July 2020 as a penalty from the general public. After the guidelines were issued again in November, in just 5 days, one and a half crore rupees were collected. BMC collected a whopping Rs 16.77 crore. The amount was collected as a fine from 20 April to 23 December. In June 2020, the police in the electoral state of Tamil Nadu collected two crore rupees. Rs 6.85 crores in were collected in Uttarakhand during the lockdown.
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