Sabarimala: HC Dismisses and Fines BJP Leader’s ‘Mischievous’ PIL

BJP leader Sobha Surendran’s petition alleged that the state government was ‘harassing’ pilgrims.

The BJP leader’s petition also directed the state to produce a list of devotees who were arrested after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict.

(Photo: IANS)

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed BJP leader Sobha Surendran’s PIL alleging that the police was harassing pilgrims at Sabarimala. Calling it ‘mischievous,’ the bench also imposed Rs 25,000 as penalty.

Sobha’s petition alleged that the state government was ‘harassing’ pilgrims. Her petition also directed the state to produce a list of devotees who were arrested after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict allowing women entry into the hill shrine and also asked for details of disciplinary acton against police officers deployed at the temple and surrounding areas, according to Live Law.

Hearing the PIL, the division bench comprising Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar observed that the petition was filed with ‘mischievous intentions’ and for ‘cheap publicity’.

Referring to Superintendent of Police Yathish Chandra who was in charge of security at Nilakkal, Sobha Surendran’s petition stated that a union minister as well as a high court judge had to face rude behaviour from the officer.

The petition was referring to Yathish’s altercation with Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan last month at Sabarimala.

Describing the nature of allegations in the petition as perverse, the bench stated that the court is no place for experimental litigation. Following an apology tendered by the counsel and permission to withdraw the petition, the bench imposed costs for abuse of process and wasting the court’s time.

Last month, Sobha Surendran was booked by the Kerala police for her provocative statements against SP Yathish Chandra.

According to reports, Sobha issued a threat against Chandra who was on duty at Sabarimala during a protest march against the arrest of BJP state secretary K Surendran in Kannur.

“In her speech, she said that if police officers have lathis, we have dandas or sticks,” Kannur SI told TNM.

“She was booked under section 117 E of the Kerala Police act - threatening obstructing or assaulting a police officer with the manifest intention of preventing the officer from discharging his duties.”