News Analysis India

Tag: Kerala assembly

  • Kerala Assembly ruckus: Won’t condone unruly behaviour of MLAs, says SC

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI/T’PURAM: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the motive of the state in seeking the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against six leaders of the ruling LDF, including two sitting and four former MLAs, in connection with the assembly ruckus in 2015, stating such action and damage to public property should be met with legal action.

    “Prima facie we have to take a strict view of this kind of behaviour. This is not acceptable. Look at the behaviour of an MLA who throws mic on the floor of the house. He must face trial,” said a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah. 

    “They are MLAs and they represent the people,” the bench said while considering the petition moved by the state and the accused leaders challenging a Kerala High Court order refusing to discharge them.The case relates to the destruction of furniture and electronic equipment in the Speaker’s chamber of the assembly by E P Jayarajan, V Sivankutty, K T Jaleel, K Ajith, C K Sadasivan and K Kunjammed during the budget presentation by the late K M Mani who had been facing corruption allegation in connection with bar bribery scandal.While considering the plea, Justice Shah asked what was the motive for the protest. Senior counsel and former solicitor general Ranjit Kumar replied the opposition MLAs were staging a protest against the “corrupt finance minister”.

    ‘It’s vital to maintain sense of decorum’

    The SC bench maintained that such behaviour cannot be condoned and the accused should face trial under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. “Irrespective of the reputation of the finance minister, the passage of the bill is of utmost importance,” observed Justice Chandrachud, adding that “these (assembly proceedings) are sentinels of democracy and that it is essential to maintain a sense of decorum.” 

    “Now these incidents are happening (frequently). It is happening in the parliament too,” Justice Shah added. The court adjourned the matter for July 15.The case registered under the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act said the state suffered a loss of `2.20 lakh due to MLAs actions. Among the accused, V Sivankutty is the general education minister in the current cabinet and KT Jaleel is a sitting MLA. 

    The state approached the SC with a special leave petition as the High Court refused to allow its appeal challenging the Thiruvananthapuram CJM court’s decision not to allow the withdrawal of prosecution in these cases under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.  If the SC dismisses the petition, the six politicians, including Minister V Sivankutty will have to face trial in the case at CJM court.

  • Sabarimala won’t be allowed to turn into Ayodhya: Vijayan

    Taking a firm stand, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday that Sabarimala won’t be allowed to become an Ayodhya.

    Sabarimala town has witnessed protests ever since the Supreme Court ruled in September that women of all ages can enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged 10-50.

    As the Kerala Assembly opened on Wednesday, legislators from the Congress-led opposition came with placards and banners demanding that the prohibitory orders in the temple town be lifted.

    During the entire question hour, the opposition was rooted before the Speaker shouting slogans. As former Devasom Minister VS Sivakumar alleged that the Left government and the Sangh parivar were colluding to destroy the sanctity of the Sabarimala temple, Vijayan said that the prohibitory orders now in place at the temple town will not be withdrawn.

    “We are bound to adhere to the apex court ruling even as the Sangh parivar with the support of the Congress is out to create trouble in the temple,” the Chief Minister said.

    “At no cost will we allow Sabarimala to be turned into an Ayodhya and there is no question of withdrawing the prohibitory orders,” he said to thumping of desks by the treasury benches.

    Vijayan said that even the Kerala High Court had supported the rules now in force at Sabarimala. “The Congress is trying to make political capital out of the Sabarimala issue.”

    Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that now it had become clear that Vijayan had only one agenda — to weaken the Congress party and for that he has given the full support to the BJP/RSS.

    “The decision of the police to hand over the mike to RSS leader Valsan Thilenkery to control the protesters at the temple reveals everything… Vijayan is behaving like those who built the Titanic who said the ship will never sink. But it sank. Vijayan is also going to meet such an end. The way he is handling the Sabarimala issue, devotees are deeply pained,” he said.

    When the opposition members trooped near Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan, he went through the listed business of the day in a flash and adjourned the House for the day.

    The Assembly saw the lone BJP legislator O. Rajagopal and his new found ally P.C. George turn up in black shirts. They said they were protesting against the Government for putting the Sabarimala pilgrims into difficulties.