Compulsory Covid tests, physical checks of tourists being considered by Karnataka govt
Madikeri: Compulsory COVID-19 tests and physical checks of visitors to tourist destinations in Karnataka are among the guidelines being considered to prevent the spread of the virus, Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar said here on Tuesday.
"Instructions have been given to officials to introduce new and improved guidelines to ensure that Coronavirus does not spread due to people visiting tourist spots in the state," he told reporters.
The Minister was speaking after reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the district headquarters town of Kodagu and the steps taken by the administration to prevent its spread.
"Guidelines like compulsory COVID-19 tests and physical checking of tourists, with the help of police, health and revenue department staff at tourist spots, are under consideration for framing new guidelines," Sudhakar added.
To a question on reopening the school as per the Centre's guidelines, he said the state was not considering it now in view of the surge of infections in Karnataka.
On the COVID situation in the district, the minister there were certain shortcomings in the health services, which would be sorted out.
Referring to the mortality rate in the district, it was earlier in the green zone but was now in the red zone due to an increase in COVID-19 deaths after unlocking relaxations.
The minister directed the officials to ensure that the that a death audit is conducted every day.
He also recommended that local people be inducted in the booth level task force committee.
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SC to hear today NGO's plea for release of voter turnout data for LS polls within 48 hours
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to grant an urgent hearing on a plea by an NGO seeking a direction to the Election Commission to upload polling station-wise voter turnout data on its website within 48 hours of conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the counsel appearing for the Election Commission (EC) to take instructions and said it will hear the matter at the end of the board.
The matter was mentioned by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), seeking urgent listing of the petition.
Last week, the NGO filed an interim application in its 2019 PIL seeking directions to the poll panel that "scanned legible copies of Form 17C Part-I (Account of Votes Recorded)" of all polling stations be uploaded immediately after the polls.
"Direct the Election Commission to provide tabulated polling station-wise data in absolute figures of the number of votes polled as recorded in Form 17C Part- I after each phase of polling in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections and also a tabulation of constituency-wise figures of voter turnout in absolute numbers in the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections," the NGO said.
It said the plea was filed to ensure that the democratic process is not subverted by electoral irregularities.
"The voter turnout data for the first two phases of the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha elections published by ECI on April 30 has been published after 11 days of the first phase of polling... on April 19 and four days after second phase of polling... on April 26.
"The data, as published by the ECI in its press release dated April 30, 2024 shows a sharp increase (by about 5-6 per cent) as compared to the initial percentages announced by ECI as of 7 pm on the day of polling," the plea said.
The petition said the "inordinate" delay in the release of final voter turnout data, coupled with the unusually high revision of over 5 per cent in the poll panel's press note of April 30, 2024 has raised concerns and public suspicion regarding the correctness of the said data.
The non-release of the absolute number of votes polled coupled with the "unreasonable delay" in the release of votes polled data has led to apprehensions in the mind of the electorate about the sharp increase between initial data and data released on April 30, it said.
"These apprehensions must be addressed and put to rest. That in order to uphold the voter's confidence it is necessary that the ECI be directed to disclose on its website scanned legible copies of Form 17C Part- I (Account of Votes Recorded) of all polling stations which contains the authenticated figures for votes polled, within 48 hours of the close of polling," it said.
