Cannot give two weeks' time to place Covid protocol on record: Karnataka High Court to BJP

The Karnataka High Court on Friday took an unfavourable view of the failure on the part of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to place on record its COVID-19 protocol to be followed while attending political rallies. .A Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty asked,."What directions have you issued to your party workers?".When counsel appearing for BJP stated that he wanted ten days to place on record an affidavit detailing the directions issued by the party, the Bench was unimpressed. ."You don't need 10 days time to file objections; cases are increasing in Bangalore. It is a simple thing, you just have to say whether you have issued directions or not. If you have not issued directions, then issue directions," the Court said. .The Court eventually granted one more week to the ruling party to file its response. ."All that the 5th respondent (BJP) was required to state was whether directions on wearing masks were issued to party members on COVID-19 norms. For making such a simple statement on oath, we cannot give two weeks time. We grant one week's time to make the statement on oath," the order states. .The Bench was hearing a petition filed by an NGO LetzKits Foundation, seeking proper enforcement of COVID-19 protocol guidelines in the State..In November 2020, the Court had issued notice to BJP, CPI, JD(S), CPI(M), Indian National Congress and Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha after it noted that multiple political rallies were held by political parties flouting social distancing norms..Last week, an affidavit filed by BJP claiming that it has not conducted any public rally or gathering in the State during the COVID-19 pandemic drew the ire of the High Court. Chief justice Oka said that the statement amounted to perjury since the Bench had photographs which contradicted the ruling party's version..During the hearing on Friday, the Bench also questioned the State government on the action taken by it against the violations during a rally organized on February 21 seeking more reservation for the Panchamasali Lingayat community under the Other Backward Classes category..The Court was informed that Rs 10,000 was collected as fine from a former MLA for breaching COVID-19 norms at the February 21 rally by officers of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). On this aspect, the Court specifically stated that compounding of offences can be made by an officer authorized by the government on payment of such amount as may be notified by the government..The Court asked the State government to clarify on affidavit this aspect of compounding of offences under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020. .The matter will be next heard on March 22.