Kerala HC Considers Contempt Actions Against CPI-M for Road Blockage
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Kochi, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court expressed serious concerns on Monday as it examined a petition against CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan for leading a party area conference along a central roadway in the state capital. The court is considering whether to initiate suo moto contempt proceedings against party leaders due to this obvious breach of legal regulations.
On December 5, shortly before the meeting commenced in the evening, traffic on one side of the road was obstructed, resulting in significant congestion at a time when schools were dismissing and offices were closing.
The high court was particularly annoyed that the conference location was directly opposite the Thiruvananthapuram district court and the Vanchiyoor police station.
One reason for the court's strict stance is the alarming statistic that 40,821 road accidents have been reported in the state up until October this year, resulting in 3,168 fatalities and 45,657 injuries.
"According to the data available on the official website of Kerala Police, the number of road accidents in Kerala for the year 2024 up until October stands at 40,821, leading to 3,168 deaths and 45,657 injuries. The reckless and negligent driving in the state has escalated to the point where even pedestrians on sidewalks or those waiting at pedestrian crossings suffer fatal injuries. Given these circumstances, the question arises whether suo moto contempt proceedings under Article 215 of the Constitution of India should be considered for blatantly violating the directives outlined in the order and judgment of this Court in WPC No.11886 of 2021," the bench remarked.
The state's police chief submitted a report on Monday following the court's request for a list of individuals present on stage and those who attended the gathering.
The court further highlighted the rising number of accidents in the state, noting that unauthorized construction on roadways could increase risks for pedestrians. It stated: "Individuals attending a public meeting staged on a public road must face the repercussions, or the organizers and attendees must bear the consequences…. They should be held accountable; we will determine how to manage these situations," the court declared, scheduling the next hearing for Wednesday.
The court's stern approach regarding this matter has caused considerable alarm within the ruling CPI-M, especially as this incident emerged with the party's district meetings approaching their conclusion, with 13 more meetings scheduled ahead of the state party conference in March. For the CPI-M, utilizing roadways to demonstrate their organizational prowess is commonplace.
