Kerala HC orders 20 Thiruvananthapuram BJP councillors to take fresh oath

Kochi, June 24
In a significant order that has revived a politically sensitive dispute in the state capital, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed 20 BJP councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to take a fresh oath within four weeks after questions were raised over the manner in which they were sworn in after assuming office.

The controversy dates back to January this year when a division bench of the High Court issued notices to the councillors on a petition filed by CPI(M) councillor S.P. Deepak.

The petition challenged the validity of the oath taken by the BJP members, alleging that several of them had sworn in the names of specific deities instead of following the format prescribed under the municipal rules.

During the earlier hearing, the court had observed that the statutory format required elected representatives either to swear in the name of God or make a solemn affirmation.

The bench had then questioned how an oath could be taken in the names of multiple gods and deities when the law prescribed a specific format.

Acting on the petition, the court on Wednesday directed the 20 councillors to retake the oath within four weeks.

Deepak, who moved the court, said the order vindicated his contention that accepted norms and procedures governing the oath had been violated.

According to him, some councillors had taken the oath invoking the names of specific deities rather than adhering to the prescribed wording.

In his petition, Deepak had sought cancellation of the oaths, arguing that swearing in the names of multiple gods and deities rendered them legally invalid.

Earlier, the petitioner had also sought an interim order restraining the councillors from attending corporation meetings and drawing honorarium until the case was finally decided.

The court, however, declined that request, allowing them to continue in office while making it clear that the validity of their oaths would remain subject to the final outcome of the case.

The BJP, for the first time in the state's history, registered a stunning victory, capturing the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after ousting the CPI(M), which was ruling it for over four decades.