Over putting off the decision of conducting local elections in nine districts of Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court has pulled up the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission.
As the apex court observed that the local elevations had not taken place for nearly two years in these nine districts, a deadline has been given till 15th September and highlighted how COVID-19 is “a good excuse in all matters.”
The representor of the state poll body, Senior Advocate PS Narsimha told the Supreme Court that the state of Tamil Nadu has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and “delimitation has to be done in the newly carved out nine districts.”
It added, “For two years, you have not conducted the elections. Now you conduct the elections before the third wave arrives. We know the reality in these matters, unless and until political parties are ready, elections are not held.”
The state’s election commission was first directed by the court to conduct the polls by August 31. But, the representor said it was too early. According to NDTV, he said, “Electronic Voting Machines will have to be brought from the Election Commission and delimitation has to be done.”
Eventually, the court permitted an extension. The judges including Justices Hemant Gupta and Aniruddha Bose added, “We will give you time till September 15 to complete the election process.” They continued, “It is only nine districts. If not done, we will initiate contempt action against the state poll body.”
