Kerala - Kochi   

Poll petition against Minister dismissed

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition challenging the election of Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran from the Kodungalloor Assembly constituency.

The petition was filed by the defeated UDF candidate Umesh Challiyil. He alleged that the leaflets and posters containing false allegations with respect to his personal character had been published by Mr. Rajendran or his election agents during the election. Thus, the respondents had indulged in corrupt practices.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan said it was not proved that the leaflets and posters were published or distributed by the respondent or his election agent or other agents or workers.

The petitioner alleged that a notice containing a photograph of his dozing off in the Assembly with a heading “do you want a fool or a Minister” was published by the agents of Mr. Rajendran. The photograph was taken out from a newspaper.

Rejecting the contention, the court said the mere “supply of the caption” to the photograph could not be treated “as a publication of any statement of acts in relation to the personal character or conduct of the candidate.”

That criticism was only a statement regarding a public conduct of the petitioner as an MLA and it could only be treated as “public comment” on the conduct of the petitioner for dozing off in the Assembly.

The court said it did not find any ground to hold that this publication disclosed any corrupt practices.

The State government reiterated in an additional counter affidavit that it was examining the legality of bar licences given to the four clubs which were functioning on the government land.

The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition challenging the cancellation of the bar licence of the Trivandrum Golf Club.

The government said that if it was satisfied that these clubs were not entitled to get licence, it would cancel the licences.

Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishan on Wednesday issued notice to the State Election Commission on a writ petition filed by three disqualified members of the Kottayam municipality.

The three members, Latha, S. Jayakumar and Chellamma Thampi were disqualified by the State Election Commission on the ground of defection.

They had voted against a no-confidence motion moved against Reeba Varkey, chairman of the municipality.

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