College union poll row: HC allows SFI candidate to temporarily assume office
Kochi: The Kerala High Court refused to issue an interim order to restrict the SFI chairman candidate from taking office at Sree Kerala Varma College in Thrissur following the controversial union election.
The ruling from the court came in the wake of a petition moved by KSU candidate Sreekuttan Sivadasan challenging the election mandate.
Though the court refused to impose an interim order, the bench of Justice T.R. Ravi noted that the SFI candidate will only hold the post temporarily till the final ruling is issued. Furthermore, the court questioned why SFI demanded the recounting if they were leading after the initial count of votes.
MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan represented the KSU candidate in the court. Despite KSU's request that the SFI be barred from assuming office, the court noted that the petitioners failed to submit the requisite paperwork for giving such an interim order.
Mathew Kuzhalnadan argued in court that his client, Sreekuttan, was initially declared the winner and then defeated by conducting a recount. When the court asked for documents to verify the same, the MLA replied this was communicated verbally. Though the Congress MLA presented documents posted on social media concerning the election, the court refused to accept these as valid documents to corroborate the petitioner's claim. Following this, Justice T.R. Ravi directed the college’s returning officer to produce all the election documents in court.
The standing counsel, who appeared for Calicut University, informed the HC that all processes were followed throughout the recounting. The defendants also argued that it was the SFI candidate who came out victorious after the initial counting of votes.
The court will hear the case again on Thursday. The court has directed that all the required documents, including the tabulation sheet, be submitted on that day. After examining these, the court will announce its final verdict. Until then, the SFI candidate can assume the office.