KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a huge relief for Thiruvananthapuram corporation councillor R Sugathan, who is under preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA), the Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Viyyur Central Prison authorities to make arrangements for his swearing in inside the prison at 11am on Tuesday.
Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, while considering a writ petition by Sugathan, also permitted Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V V Rajesh and the minimum required corporation officials to enter the prison for administering the oath.
The HC had earlier invalidated the oath taken by Sugathan and a few other councillors for taking it in the name of Sree Narayana Guru and local deities rather than the manner prescribed under the Kerala Municipality Act. While the others retook the oath, Sugathan could not do so as he was detained under KAAPA.
On Monday, the court held that the petitioner’s inability to retake the oath because of his detention should not defeat the democratic process.
The verdict drew sharp political reactions, with BJP hailing it while Opposition LDF terming it a blot on the image of the state capital. LDF parliamentary party leader S P Deepak said,“Allowing a person detained under KAAPA and facing multiple criminal cases to take the oath from jail is unacceptable.”
