Political Parties Should Take Responsibility And Instruct Members To Wear Face Masks & Maintain Social Distancing : Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notice to political parties-Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India, Indian National Congress, Janata Dal and Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, calling upon them to make a statement, whether they are willing to issue instructions to its members/followers to strictly abide by the rules regarding wearing of mask and maintaining of social distance. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty said: "Prima facie we are of the view that it is the responsibility of all the political parties to join hands with the state machinery for strict implementation of rules regarding wearing of mask and social distancing. The bench noted that : "On the record of the petition there are instances pointed out which show that political rallies organized by political parties the rules regarding wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing were observed only in breach. The statement is made in a an affidavit filed in response to the direction issued by the court directing the state government to inform whether it will prosecute Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya and other political leaders who have violated norms by not wearing face masks during political rallies and have admitted to the breach in the form of paying the fine amounts imposed on them.