After DAMOH BY-POLL RESULT, No Victory Procession – Orders MP High Court

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Damoh – The Madhya Pradesh HC in Jabalpur on Tuesday ordered strict adherence to Covid-19 Guidelines during the counting of votes for Damoh Assembly By-Polls. The court told Damoh administration to ensure that no victory procession or rally is allowed post announcement of the poll result, on May 2.

The court’s direction came while the principal bench was hearing a PIL by 2 lawyers seeking appropriate action against the Election Commission of India for holding elections in Madhya Pradesh and other states during the pandemic. The court, however, refused to intervene in the violation of Covid-19 rules during the elections held in other states, and disposed off the petition filed by advocates Phool Chand Paliwal and Umesh Trivedi.

The double bench of the high court, comprising of Chief Justice Md Rafiq and Justice Atul Sridharan, declined to pass any order on the petitioners’ demand of acting against the EC and the State Election Commission.

However the HC has ordered Damoh collector to ensure that all safety guidelines are followed in counting and no victory procession or political activity is held after the announcement of result at Damoh.

The counsel for the Election Commission, Advocate Siddharth Seth, said that the EC will stick to the directives issued by the court for May 2, adding that the court referred to constitutional provisions for not interfering in the ongoing poll processes in other states.

Richa Sahay

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