In view of the rising COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission of India issued fresh guidelines in relation to the counting of votes of assembly and by-pole elections. The ECI made negative RT-PCR test reports or complete vaccination reports mandatory for candidates and their agents to enter counting centres.
The DDO shall be the nodal officer at each counting centre and will ensure adherence to following the guidelines, with the help of the Nodal Health Officer.
Anybody found violating the guidelines will be liable to action under the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC and other legal provisions as applicable.