Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court, on Monday, expressed strong disapproval of the decision to remove the Congress candidate Vaishna Suresh from the voters' list, labeling the action as unjust and deeply unfair.

Vaishna had initiated her campaign for the Muttada Ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation when authorities intervened, leading to her removal from the electoral rolls, thus disqualifying her from participating in the upcoming December 9 local body elections.

The Court raised concerns about the sudden removal of a young woman who had publicly declared her candidacy and cautioned against allowing political interests to sway electoral processes.

“Is this how a 24-year-old woman stepping forward to contest should be treated?” the Court remarked, emphasizing that her documentation contained the correct address and there was no evidence of her registration elsewhere.

It underscored that a candidate's right to contest should not be compromised due to mere technicalities, especially in a Corporation election where procedural integrity is paramount.

The Bench directed the State Election Commission to promptly address Vaishna's situation and reinstate her name on the voters' list.

Failure to comply would prompt the Court to exercise its extraordinary powers, it warned.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan also instructed the District Collector to resolve Vaishna's appeal before November 19, indicating that the High Court would step in if the deadline were disregarded.

Vaishna's removal stemmed from a complaint lodged by a CPI-M worker, who claimed a discrepancy between her permanent address and the address used for her voter registration.

While her family home is located in Muttada, she currently resides in a rented property in Ambalamukku, where she had previously voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress party subsequently approached the High Court after her vote was canceled, citing irregularities linked to the address of Dhanesh Kumar, the CPI-M worker who filed the complaint.

Dhanesh refuted allegations of misconduct, attributing the situation to a technical issue involving multiple residences sharing a single number.

With the High Court's intervention, the Congress remains optimistic that Vaishna will continue as its official candidate.

Vaishna, who resigned from her position to participate in the forthcoming local body elections, described the recent events as emotionally draining.

She had already launched her campaign when the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation rejected her appeal, compelling her to seek intervention from the High Court.