CPI(M) Leaders Personally Appear Before Kerala High Court In Contempt Case Initiated For Blocking Road To Protest Against Central Govt

CPI(M) leaders and former legislative assembly members M.V. Jayarajan, E.P. Jayarajan, and P. Jayarajan along with MLA K.V. Sumesh (respondents 1 to 4) appeared before the Kerala High Court in a contempt case filed for allegedly causing traffic obstruction while organising a party protest in Kargil Yogasala four-lane Highway in Kannur on February 25.

The protest, organised by the CPI(M), with the slogan 'Isn't Kerala in India?' related to alleged economical sidelining of Kerala by the Central Government.

The petitioner, N. Prakash, filed the contempt plea alleging that the said protest was in violation of the 2010 directions in Khalid Mundappilly v. Executive Engineer [WP(C) 19253/2010], wherein the Court had prohibited Government agencies including Public Works Department, Police, Revenue and Local Authorities from granting any permission to hold meetings on public roads and road margins.

In the said judgment, there was also a direction to the Police to remove the stages and all installations, articles and people in case meetings are held contrary to the directions.

The Court had in its earlier order noted that a tent was set up in front of the Head Post Office and chairs were arranged in the middle of a busy road and traffic was diverted from there from morning. The police and other authorities had remained mute spectators while this was going on, the Court had remarked.

On September 09, the Court had also noted that the present incident occurred after its detailed order in Con Case (C) No. 3252/2024 involving CPI(M)'s M.V. Govindan for conducting Palayam area Conference on the public road in front of Vanchiyoor Court Complex and Vanchiyoor Police Station.

In the interim order, the Court had ordered for personal appearance of Respondents 1 to 4 along with the Station House Officer (Kannur Town Police Station) and Commissioner of Police, Kannur City.

Today, when the case came up for consideration, the respondents appeared before the Court. The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. recorded the personal appearance of the afore persons and observed:

"Pursuant to the direction contained in the order of this Court dated 11.09.2025, respondents 1 to 4 and also respondents 5 and 6 are personally present here. The learned senior counsel for respondents 1 to 4 and also the Additional Advocate General for respondents 5 and 6 seeks time to file individual affidavits for the said respondents. Three weeks time granted...The personal presence of respondents 1 to 4 and also that of respondents 5 and 6 is dispensed with for the time being."

"All respondents will have to file individual affidavits," the Court orally added.

The matter is posted after 4 weeks.

Case No: Contempt Case (C) No. 557 of 2025 in WP(C) 19253/2010

Case Title: N. Prakash v. M.V. Jayaraj and Ors.

Click to Read/Download Order dated 11.09.2025

Click to Read/Download Judgment in WP(C) No.19253 of 2010