Kochi High Court Overturns Government’s Decision to Deny Permission to Twenty20 Political Party’s Conference

2024-01-19 19:10:13

Kochi: The High Court quashed the government’s decision to deny permission to the gathering of political party Twenty20. Permission has been given to hold the meeting on 21st of this month at 5.30 pm at Kolanchery St. Peter’s Ground in Poothrika Panchayat. Justice A. Raja Vijayaraghavan directed the Ernakulam District Police Chief, DySP, CI and SI not to try to disrupt the conference or harm the organizers. The court also pointed out that denying permission to others to conduct affairs at the venue where the ‘Navakerala Sadas’ was held under the leadership of the Chief Minister would be a violation of equal justice as stipulated in the Constitution.

The petitioners alleged that the authorities had decided not to allow the conference to be held under any circumstances, yielding to the interests of some ‘influential’ persons. The objection was based on the fact that part of the ground on which the conference is to be held is revenue-excluded land. 10,000 was charged and the college principal gave permission to use the ground for the conference. Then the plaintiff pointed out that Puthankurish sub-divisional office also gave permission to use the microphone in the meeting.

But during the argument, the government opposed the permission to hold the conference. The investigation revealed that some part of the college ground is revenue-excluded land. Subsequently, the organizers were told to take permission from the Revenue Department, but in the petition filed at the Sub-Divisional Office, it was said that the conference will be held on private land. The government argued that this is untrue.

But the court judgment pointed out that the government’s arguments for denying permission to hold the conference are not valid. The Constitution gives everyone the same right to assemble and peacefully propagate their ideas. That is the essence of democracy. The organizers have obtained necessary permissions to hold the conference on the college grounds. It cannot be denied that the program led by the Chief Minister was held there. Therefore, the court also stated that the action of prohibiting the holding of the meeting there is not correct when examined on the basis of the judicial system.

English Summary:

High Court Quashed The Government’s Decision To Deny Permission To The Political Party Twenty20’s Conference