The Supreme Court has allowed the counting of UP Panchayat elections to be held on May 2. The court has approved the UP Election Commission’s assurance that counting centers will be arranged in accordance with the COVID guidelines. Teachers and staff organizations have threatened the boycott boycott due to Corona.
In the court, the State Election Commission had said that strict curfew will be imposed in the counting area. Only authorized representatives will be allowed to visit counting centers. The court also kept in mind the Commission’s promise that an appropriate officer would be authorized to oversee the arrangement of counting centers.
The Supreme Court asked the Election Commission, did you assess the current situation? Is this a dynamic state of corona infection? What is the latest step you have taken? While answering the question, the Election Commission said that two orders have been issued on April 29, including the guidelines, it is completely based on the guidelines of the Election Commission. During this time, the State Election Commission gave the data of voting and counting to the court.
Antigen test at every counting center
The Supreme Court asked if there is a system of measuring temperature at the entry point, on which the Election Commission said that we have not only a temperature check, but also a system to check SPO2 from the oximeter. Masks and social distancing will be strictly followed. An antigen test will be arranged at every counting center. Also, sanitization will be taken care of here. Apart from this, whoever shows the symptoms of corona, will not be given an entry.
The SC order is, “We have noted what has been kept by the State Election Commission. We do not understand the need for interfering with the order of Allahabad HC.The protocol that was put before us, it should be completely followed. There should be strict curfew outside the counting center. No Vijay rally should be held. “With this order, the Supreme Court has allowed the counting of votes on May 2 .
