Flouting of Covid norms rampant at UP counting centres

MEERUT: Chaotic scenes outside most

counting

centres in Uttar Pradesh-- with several booths requiring police intervention to bring some semblance of normalcy-- on Sunday belied the promise the

state election commission

(

SEC

) made in the Supreme Court.


While replying to a petition seeking deferment of counting of votes cast during four phases of panchayat elections in UP, senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati, appearing on behalf of the SEC, had on Saturday assured the court that all pandemic norms will be strictly followed.


The petition had claimed that over 700 teachers lost their lives to Covid-19 soon after returning from election duties.


The apex court had refused to put a stay on the counting after the SEC promised all the measures to check the further spread of the deadly virus.