Kerala HC quashes criminal cases against ex-UDF MLAs in 2015 Assembly brawl

2015 Kerala Assembly Ruckus: High Court quashes criminal cases against former UDF MLAs

Kochi, August 18

The case stemmed from complaints filed by former Left Democratic Front (LDF) women legislators Jameela Prakasham and K K Lathika, who accused the UDF leaders of physical assault, wrongful restraint, and outraging their modesty during the chaotic Assembly session.

The High Court observed that the complaints did not satisfy the essential ingredients required to prove an intention to outrage modesty (IPC Section 354) or wrongful restraint (IPC Section 341).

The court noted that the UDF MLAs intervened to protect then-Finance Minister K M Mani so he could fulfil his constitutional duty of presenting the State Budget.

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan emphasised that while members of the Assembly have the right to conduct peaceful and democratic protests, no member has the right to physically block a Finance Minister from delivering the budget, regardless of any corruption allegations against him at the time.

The incident took place on March 13, 2015, when the then-opposition LDF protested inside the Keralam legislative assembly hall against then Finance Minister K M Mani, who was facing allegations in the bar bribery scam, for presenting the budget. Unprecedented scenes of violence broke out on the floor of the House, resulting in damaged electronic equipment, microphoned desks, and the Speaker's chair being thrown from the podium.

Counter-complaints were subsequently filed by LDF women MLAs alleging assault by UDF treasury bench members who tried to shield the Finance Minister.

With the High Court's latest verdict, all criminal proceedings arising from these specific assault complaints against the former UDF MLAs stand quashed.

The case pertains to a protest by the MLAs who had barged onto the Speaker's podium and destroyed computers and chairs. The LDF had created a ruckus trying to stop the speech of then Keralam Finance Minister K M Mani of the UDF government, who they alleged had taken a bribe for granting bar licences.

— ANI