One of the most assuring aspects of Indian democracy is that whenever the Executive has failed to discharge duties mandated by the Constitution, the Judiciary has made intervention, pin-pointing flaws and offering suitable advice. Last Saturday, Delhi HC said it will “hang” those trying to stop oxygen cylinders reaching Delhi. On Monday, it was the Election Commission that faced an unprecedented rebuke from Madras HC. A bench comprising CJ S Banerjee and Justice S Ramamoorthy while hearing a petition that dealt with availability of adequate Covid safety procedures during vote counting in a constituency in TN said ECI is the “only institution” responsible for the deadly spread of 2nd Covid wave in the country. No action against political parties brazenly violating SOPs during election rallies were taken by ECI for which it should be charged with murder, the CJ observed. The court made it clear at no cost the counting procedure should act as a catalyst for further surge and if ECI fails to provide a suitable blueprint that would ensure maintenance of safety norms on May 2 (counting day) at all centres in states/UT that went to assembly polls, counting will be stopped altogether. “Public health is of paramount importance and it’s distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded,” the court underlined. The intervention will receive wide applause from citizens. However, the harm that has been done due to the unfazed attitude of political parties during rallies and the lackadaisical attitude of ECI that allowed the ‘deviations’ to sustain, will be irrecoverable.

 

Coincidental it may appear, on Monday Union Health Ministry while quoting a study conducted by ICMR said if no physical distancing is maintained, one Covid patient person can infect 406 in 30 days. People have been advised that it’s high time to wear face masks even at home, especially if a Covid patient is in vicinity, besides observing social distancing and hand washing. Without harbouring an iota of doubt regarding the relevance of such advice, it still needs retelling that the current Covid calamity was absolutely avoidable if the go-slow temperament regarding vaccination wasn’t so prominent. It’s now known to all that without taking the dual doses a comprehensive immunity will not be triggered and that too after 7-14 days of 2nd dose. Health Ministry’s data tell that as on Monday 14.19 crore doses have been administered across the country, among which the 45+ age slab accounts for 9.79 crore (1st dose),1.03 crore (2nd dose); healthcare workers: 92.98 lakh (1st dose), 60.08 lakh (2nd dose); frontline workers: 1.19 crore (1st dose), 63.10 lakh (2nd dose).

An uncluttered picture of where the country actually stands in terms of vaccination achievement or the overall fightback can be made out from the above figures. Isn’t it still little and rather late?