Comment on Election Commission on violation of COVID-19 guidelines of Madras High Court
- Recently, the Madras High Court, while hearing a case, remarked that the Election Commission had failed to implement the guidelines issued for the COVID-19
- With reference to the same remarks of the Madras High Court, the Election Commission stated that it is the responsibility of the concerned state officials to implement the guidelines issued for the COVID-19 pandemicunder the Disaster Management Act, The Election Commission has no role in this.
Definition of disaster under Disaster Management Act, 2005
- According to the Act, “disasters, accidents and serious incidents” caused by natural or man-made causes in any area are called disasters.
- Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the COVID -19pandemic has been declared a disaster by the government. That is why the government issues guidelines for the COVID-19pandemic under the Disaster Management Act,
- Recently, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Central Government has ordered the states to provide the entire ‘liquid oxygen’ to the government with the existing reserves near private plants and use it only for medical purposes.
Disaster Management Act, 2005
- The Disaster Management Act was passed in the year However, the Act came into force from the year 2006.
- The objective of the Act is efficient management at the time of disaster so as to limit the damage.
- The ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’ acts as a nodal ministry under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to conduct overall national disaster management.
- Additionally, the government can issue any directive to any authority anywhere in India to do disaster management or provide assistance.
- The Act provides for the formation of the National Disaster Management Authority at the national level, the State Disaster Management Authority at the state level and the District Disaster Management Authority at the district level to maintain a systematic structure of disaster management institutions across the country.
- Along with this, a provision has also been made in the Act to set up a National Executive Committee to assist the Central Government with the National Authority.
- Significantly, the National Disaster Management Authority is headed by the Prime Minister of India.
- The National Disaster Response Fund has also been set up under the Disaster Management Act,
Source – PIB
