Kerala MLA PC George moves Supreme Court to postpone local body polls citing rise in COVID-19 cases

Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and leader of Kerala Janapaksham political party, PC George has approached the Supreme Court seeking postponement of Kerala local body elections in view of rise in Covid-19 cases in the state. .George has urged the top court to adjourn the elections till March 2021 and to set aside the Kerala High Court order of November 5 and the decision by the State Election Commission which gave green signal to hold elections in December this year..George had initially approached the State Election Commission for postponement of elections but could not succeed..The Election Commission had considered the rapid spread of Covid-19 pandemic even in the rural areas of the State and had also noted that the identity of the voter may be in doubt while wearing the Personal Protection Kit.."Election commission has dealt with the then problems as on date of the proceedings, i.e.; October and did not consider future problems. The Report of the Health director and the Chief Secretary is confined to the Covid-19 problems up to the month of September. The future problems, i.e.; the hike in the spread of Covid-19 in the month of October to December etc; were not incorporated in the Reports of the Health Officer and the Chief Secretary,"the plea states..The Election Commission, the Health Department and the Chief Secretary of the State of Kerala the convened a meeting and decided to adjourn the polls but only till the end of December..George then filed a plea before the Kerala High Court seeking adjournment of the local body elections till March, 2012 but the same was also rejected prompting him to move the Supreme Court in appeal..George has submitted that by holding elections in December instead of March would amount to violation of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. ."Article 21 has an overriding effect over the other Articles like Article 243 & 324 of the Constitution, viz; the powers and independency of the Election Commission is always subject to the most important Fundamental right; “right to Life” under Article 21 of the constitution of India," the petition states.