A Noida-based Advocate has filed a plea in the Apex Court seeking immediate strict directions to the Central Govt and Govt of Uttarakhand to withdraw all the advertisements inviting people to Haridwar for "Kumbh Mela" keeping in view the facts & figures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sanjai Kumar Pathak, in his petition filed before the Supreme Court on Friday, sought that the Union Govt, Uttarakhand Govt, & the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) be directed immediately to clear the mass gathering from Haridwar city as soon as possible & prescribe a safety protocol with respect to the people returning from Kumbh to their homes.
The petitioner, Pathak, also sought a direction from the Supreme Court to the UOI, Uttarakhand Govt, to not encourage or promote any gathering or event inconsistent with the spirit & object of the COVID guidelines & or orders issued by the UOI & NDMA.
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The petitioner, Pathak, also sought a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue direction to the concerned authorities in the States where elections are being held to strictly enforce Covid 19 guidelines against the candidates, campaigners, & public during the election process & to take appropriate action against the violators in accordance with the law.
Pathak, in his petition, a copy accessed by ANI, sought a direction to the authorities to identify the violators of Covid 19 guidelines during the election process & to take appropriate action against them in accordance with the law.
Pathak in his plea said that "On April 16, 2021, India reported more than 2 lakh new cases of Corona positive patients. The health infrastructure is crumbling in many states. Hospitals & crematoriums are running out of space. Shortage of essential drugs is reported from many cities".
Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Assam, & West Bengal Assembly elections are being held. The respondent number, 4, the ECI, has not been able to enforce the COVID-19 Rules & regulations during the political rallies & many campaigning, Pathak, said in his petition.
The Union Home Minister, the Chief Ministers of respective States, & a host of star campaigners can be seen flouting the COVID-19 norms, Pathak said in his petition.
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As India witnesses its highest surge in COVID-19, since the onset of the COVID pandemic, but visuals have surfaced of lakhs of devotees crowding in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, for Kumbh Mela and in the election rallies in States, ignoring the most basic of COVID-19 protocols, Pathak said in his petition.
Even though the disease is currently spreading at breakneck speed across the country, the Indian railways have organised 25 special trains to facilitate congregation & to link Haridwar 'Kumbh Mela' to various locations for the pilgrims as per certain media reports, he said in his petition.
The Union health minister blamed the heightened spread of COVID-19 on ordinary citizens, saying that they "became very careless" & were no longer following social distancing norms, Pathak claimed in his petition, filed before the Supreme Court.
On the one hand, the poor common man on the street is often punished & treated violently by the police & executive authorities for individual violations of Covid-19 rules & regulations in the name of strict enforcement, on the other hand, the authorities are not only permitting but facilitating & promoting congregation of people in the events like Kumbh-2021 & Election rallies, Pathak stated in the petition.
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It is visibly clear that 2 separate & mutually inconsistent standards are being adopted by the authorities in dealing with the citizens of India, Pathak added in his petition.
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