The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on Tuesday directed the chief electoral officer, (CEO) health director and health commissioner to strictly enforce SOP in the five Assembly Constituencies (ACs) which are scheduled for by-elections, with immediate effect.
The commission asked authorities to submit the action taken report on or before September 29.
The MHRC registered a suo-motu case on the basis of a news item published in a local daily alleging that by-election has become a platform for large scale spreading of COVID-19.
It has been further alleged that the election campaigns and other related matters in respect of the by-elections to be held on November 7 are now carried on and carried out in full swing without following the SOP issued by the government and resultantly have become the major factor for the rapid spread of COVID-19 amongst the local people of the five ACs and then the whole state.
“These are a serious attack on violation of Right to Life and Health guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution”, the MHRC order stated.
Election campaigns are in full swing at Wangoi, Lilong, Wangjing Tentha, Saitu (ST), and Singhat (ST) AC with the by-elections to these constituencies is barely three weeks from now. Against this backdrop, the COVID-19 positive cases and deaths in the state are rapidly on the rise.
