Protest is a "tool in the hands of the civil society" just as "strike is a weapon in the hands of the workmen", the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. The top court made the remarks while hearing an appeal filed by Ravi Namboothiri, who had challenged the Kerala High Court's judgment that upheld a trial court verdict setting aside his election as councillor in the Gram Panchayat in November 2015. His election to the post was cancelled on the ground that he suppressed in his nomination form his involvement in a criminal case and that he had committed a corrupt practice. A bench of justices S Abdul Nazeer and V Ramasubramanian said the Kerala Police Act was the successor legislation of certain police enactments of the colonial era which aimed at scuttling the democratic aspirations of the indigenous population. "Just as strike is a weapon in the hands of the workmen and lockout is a weapon in the hands of the employer under labour welfare legislations, protest is a tool in the hands of
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said no police officer who commits a wrong should be protected, and such a stand would ensure that everyone worked honestly and without fear. Speaking on the occasion of Kerala Police Formation Day, Vijayan said there were isolated incidents of police personnel or officers indulging in activities which were wrong or against the discipline of the force and such individuals should not be protected. "Anyone who cannot uphold discipline and regulations of the force can be a part of the police -- this is the stand that should be taken. Then only everyone can work honestly and without any fear," he said. His words assume significance as recently there have been several instances of police brutality and illegal actions which garnered media attention. From incidents of beating up people inside the police stations to stealing mangoes from a roadside shop, all were reported in the media in the last month from the state. While warning of "str
The Crime Branch wing of Kerala police on Thursday raided the residence of P C George in Erattupetta area of the district. The raid was carried out to find evidence in connection with the 2017 actress assault case, sources said. George has in the past expressed his support for actor Dileep in the case in which the latter is an accused. George was arrested twice this year for allegedly making hate speeches and later released on bail.
As the prosecution failed to produce evidence against the accused, the court acquitted the Bishop
A total of 162 migrant workers have been arrested after they attacked a police team, which went to contain a clash that erupted among them during Christmas celebrations here, police said on Monday.
Kerala police has registered a case against actors Mammootty, Ramesh Pisharody and 300 others for allegedly violating Covid protocol during the inauguration of a medical facility at a hospital
Kerala Police has issued a notice to the hotel in Kochi in which a core committee of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is meeting on Sunday.
State Police chief Loknath Behra on Saturday made the announcement
A special cabinet which met in the afternoon decided to recommend Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to issue an ordinance to repeal Section 118-A, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday said the Kerala Police Act Amendment ordinance will be "reconsidered". His statement comes after a political storm broke out on Sunday over the controversial amendment to the Police Act. The Kerala Cabinet, last month, had decided to give more teeth to the Police Act by recommending addition of Section 118-A. It stipulates either imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 or both to those who produce, publish or disseminate content through any means of communication with an intention to intimidate, insult or defame any person through social media. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government defended the move, saying that it is intended to reduce cyber crimes against women. "The ordinance will be reconsidered," Yechury told PTI. When asked if "reconsidered" could mean toning down the ordinance, he indicated that it means the ordinance will be scrapped. The LDF government is likely to let the ordinance la
Suspended IAS officer M Sivasankar, facing probe in the Kerala gold smuggling case, was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate, soon after a court rejected his anticipatory bail petition
Security arrangements have been completed at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple which will be opened for the monthly five-day pooja on October 16 evening,police said on Friday. The commandant of the Kerala Armed Police (KAP) Fifth Battalion K Radhakrishnan has been appointed as the Police Special Officer to oversee security, a release issued by the state police said. The Pathanamthitta district police chief and the KAP third Battalion commandant will assist the special officer. According to the release,at a time only 250 persons will be allowed to enter the hilltop shrine. All other routes to Sabarimala, except through Vadasserikkara and Erumeli, will be closed. The COVID-19 health protocol will have to be strictlyfollowed by the staff, officials and devotees,state police chief Loknath Behera said. The temple will be opened for devotees on October 16 evening and regular poojas will be held for five days starting from October 17 morning, which is the first day of the
Three key accused in the high-profile Kerala gold smuggling case -- Sarith PS, Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair -- were sent to judicial custody till August 26 by a Kochi court on Monday.
NDRF, Kerala Police, Fire Force, locals and volunteers are carrying out the massive search exercise
Kerala DGP had constituted a special investigation team headed by Kochi City Deputy Commissioner of Police G Poonguzhali
Besides Covid-related information, the Bengaluru police has used TikTok to highlight issues related to women's safety and online frauds.
From being quick to quell rumours and call out fake news to using popular movie dialogues to tell people to stay in, the Mumbai Police Twitter handle has been moving at dizzying speed.
The study of 11,000 personnel in 22 states used available government data to analyse and rank the performance of state police on parameters of staffing, infrastructure and budget
Kerala Police has won public affection and nearly a million 'likes' for its audacious and fun Facebook page