SC SEEKS REPLIES OF UP, SEC ON PLEA FOR COVID-19 NORMS DURING COUNTING

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Uttar Pradesh government and the state election commission (SEC) on a plea seeking direction for observance of Covid -19 protocols in counting of votes on Sunday for the recently concluded panchayat polls there in view of the second wave of Covid-19.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar, while issuing notice to the state government and the poll panel, took note of the submissions of lawyer Shoeb Alam and agreed to hear the appeal on Saturday.

The bench was hearing the appeal filed by one Sachin Yadav challenging the Allahabad high court order which had allowed panchayat elections to continue in the state.