Following Kerala HC's Strong Warning, CPI(M) and Police Respond to Road Blockage
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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 11 (NationPress) In a decisive move, the Kerala High Court expressed strong disapproval of the ruling CPI(M) holding a party meeting on a bustling road in the heart of the state capital on December 5. Following this, both the Kerala Police and the ruling party began implementing actions on Wednesday, as a petition is scheduled to return to the court on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Kerala Police filed a case against the prominent party leader who set up the stage obstructing the road, along with 31 others. V.Joy, the CPI(M) district secretary for Thiruvananthapuram and an MLA from the area, acknowledged that it was an unfortunate mistake that should not have occurred.
Notably, on December 5, just hours before the meeting commenced in the evening, one side of the road was blocked, resulting in significant traffic congestion during peak hours when schools were dismissing and offices were closing.
The court was particularly irked because the meeting location was directly opposite the Thiruvananthapuram district court and the Vanchiyoor police station.
This issue was brought to the High Court's attention when a petition was filed by N. Prakash, seeking contempt proceedings against CPI(M) state Secretary M.V. Govindan and the State Police Chief. The meeting breached the court's prior orders prohibiting gatherings on public roads and roadside areas.
The court instructed the state government to submit an affidavit identifying who authorizes such gatherings and requested clarification on the source of electricity for these events.
Additionally, it mandated the Circle Inspector of the Vanchiyoor police station to appear before the court on Thursday to provide an explanation.
It remains to be seen how the court, which indicated it might examine the issue from a broader perspective, will respond.
The petitioner highlighted that the meeting contravened two previous High Court directives. In 2010, the court ruled that meetings could only occur in designated areas such as stadiums, public grounds away from road margins, or educational institutions during holidays, not on public roads or their margins. Another order in 2021 stipulated that encroachments, whether temporary or permanent, must be prevented to uphold pedestrian rights on public roads.
This firm directive emerges as the ruling CPI(M) conducts party meetings statewide, often leading to road blockages during these events.
