Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday directed the State Police and the State Election Commission (SEC) to implement stringent measures, including live webcasting systems and deployment of additional police personnel, to ensure that the upcoming Kerala local body elections are conducted peacefully across the state.

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan instructed that live webcasting and reinforced police protection must be arranged in polling booths identified as “hyper-sensitive” and “sensitive” by the SEC, citing the need for strict law-and-order control during polling.

The order came while hearing a batch of petitions filed by candidates, booth agents and members of the public, who expressed apprehensions of violence and electoral malpractice at several polling stations. The petitioners argued that previous local body elections witnessed booth capturing, physical assaults and disruptions, and sought mandatory videography and additional police force at vulnerable locations.

Some petitioners also told the court they feared physical attacks from rival party workers, urging urgent intervention to ensure safety during polling.

Representing the state government, officials informed the court that the State Police Chief has already made arrangements to ensure adequate security at all polling booths for the smooth conduct of elections. Meanwhile, the SEC submitted that District Election Officers (DEOs) are authorised to order videography at the request of contesting candidates wherever malpractice is feared.

The court ruled that petitioners seeking videography can submit requests to the respective DEOs, who may grant approval, subject to prior SEC clearance, and at the expense of the applicants. The court also directed that petitioners requiring police protection for candidates or booth agents should file applications before the District Police Chief, who must provide security as per law.

The High Court issued similar directives in an earlier set of petitions from Kannur district, where a large number of complaints highlighted concerns over political violence and intimidation.

Questioning why Kannur continues to carry a reputation for political clashes, the court remarked:

“The entire Kannur people should awaken in this election and show the entire state that it is a place where free and fair elections are conducted. The general public of Kannur and the entire machinery of the police force in Kannur district should come forward to remove the bad label to Kannur district".

The court added that the public, political parties and police in Kannur should work together to erase the “bad label” associated with the district and contribute to a peaceful election process.

PTI inputs