Kerala High Court criticises police over CPM meeting blocking Vanchiyoor road

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has sharply criticised the police for allowing a CPM meeting that completely blocked a road in Vanchiyoor. The court remarked that this action was in violation of previous orders of the court. It asked the police about the measures taken in connection with this incident. Despite restrictions on holding meetings and gatherings even along roadsides, the CPM conducted its meeting by blocking a major road entirely in Vanchiyoor.

It was one Prakashan, a resident of Maradu, in Ernakulam district, who filed a petition against this naming CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan and the DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb as respondents. While considering the petition, the court strongly criticised the government and the organisers for holding the meeting on a public road. The court directed the state government to clarify its proposed actions against public road encroachments for such events in the upcoming hearing. Apart from this, the court questioned whether the police had registered any case regarding the incident.

The High Court observed that this was a case warranting contempt of court  proceedings. The case will be taken up again the next day. Notably, the meeting, held on a stage set up by blocking the road, was inaugurated by M.V. Govindan. Later, the KPAC theater group staged the play Ningal Enne Communist Aakki at the venue. Over 50 police personnel were deployed throughout the day to manage traffic. A considerable portion of the road near Vanchiyoor Junction was entirely blocked for the event.

The police registered a suo motu case against the CPM Area Committee in Vanchiyoor for organising the event that disrupted public movement. The charges include unlawful assembly, causing traffic obstruction and misbehaving with police officers. Although the CPM had obtained permission only to conduct the event, the police clarified that no approval was granted for setting up a stage on the road.

The venue was prepared on the road near the Vanchiyoor court. The event caused severe traffic congestion, affecting ambulances and school vehicles on the meeting day.