Kerala - Kochi   

Court observers to monitor beauty contest

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday appointed five lawyers as observers to monitor whether rules against obscenity were being violated by the organisers of the Miss Kerala 2009 Contest, scheduled for August 5 in Kochi.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath and Justice Kurian Joseph, however, allowed the contest subject to the outcome of a writ petition against it. The court directed the observers to file a report within a week.

The petition was filed by High Court lawyer P.K Ibrahim. The petitioner contended that holding of the contest was an offence punishable under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code as the parading of girls and young women in swim suits and other such costumes were obscene acts.

The State government was bound to take action against the organisers of such events who were really inducing minor girls to participate in such contests, offering attractive titles such as Miss Kerala.

The petitioner submitted that the grooming session of the event consisted of parades in various costumes such as swim suits and evening gowns. Training was also given to them. The training was not aimed at enhancing the dignity, honour and morale of the womanhood “but acts of demeaning morals.” The event took place under an iron curtain and was open only to a select few who were close to the organisers.

A Bench comprising Justice P.R. Raman and Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair directed that before transferring various officers attached to the office of the Travancore Devaswom Commissioner, the concurrence of the Commissioner should be obtained.

The court issued the directive as it noticed that, on more than one occasion, the staff /officers attached to the office were being transferred by the TDB without the concurrence of the Commissioner, resulting in disruption of the smooth functioning of the office of the Commissioner.

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