The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the CPI(M) led Kerala Government for filing a petition seeking permission to withdraw cases against 8 prominent state CPM leaders who are present and former MLAs, including Education Minister V Sivankutty in connection with the ruckus, violence and vandalism inside the Kerala Assembly in March 2015 when then finance minister of the Congress-led UDF govt K M Mani was presenting the budget.
The accused include former state ministers K T Jaleel and E P Jayarajan. The Kerala government had moved SC against Kerala HC’s refusal of permission to the state prosecution to withdraw the cases. The bench comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah observed that there has to be some decorum maintained by ministers who represent people and can not do violence and damage public property. “Prima facie we have to take a very strict view of this kind of behaviour. This behaviour is unacceptable. We will not accept this kind of behaviour from an MLA who throws mic and destroy the public properties,” said Justice Chandrachud. The court further adjourned the matter for hearing on July 15. It was hearing a petition filed by the Kerala government seeking permission to withdraw cases against prominent CPI(M) leaders for vandalism in the Kerala Assembly in 2015 when the current ruling party in the State was in opposition.
It is to be noted here that in March 2015, the then Opposition leaders (CPI) had prevented the then Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani from presenting the state budget as there were corruption charges levelled against him. The then Opposition leaders had also carried out violence, broke furniture, lights etc. The Speaker N Sakthan had filed a police complaint consequently wherein he claimed that Rs 2.5 lakh worth properties were destroyed by the leaders.
