Plea filed in SC against Kerala government's swearing in ceremony

The protest for the public swearing-in ceremony of the Kerala government is gaining pace as a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Kerela government to call off the physical swearing-in ceremony of the LDF government or limit the number of people in attendance.

New Delhi: A Public Interest Litigation(PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Kerela government to call off the physical swearing-in ceremony of the LDF government or limit the number of people in attendance to 75 which currently is 500.

The PIL has been filed by KM Shahjahan contending that on one hand the state has imposed lockdown due to the covid pandemic and people are forced to give up their livelihood and other pleasures and on the other hand state is spending huge amounts to organize a "super spreader public event" to show its victory.

He says that the election was one of the reasons for the virus to spread and holding a physical ceremony will be in violation of the laws and protocols that it enforces on its people.

The plea says that it is necessary for the apex court to interfere in the matter as "there are none to question the absolute abuse of power by the Government of Kerela".

The LDF has retained power in Kerala by winning 99 seats, beating its rivals-Congress-headed United Democratic Front (UDF) and BJP-NDA. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled on May 20 at Central Stadium.

While the preparations are underway, the demand to conduct the swearing-in ceremony online is gaining steam in Kerala.

Read: Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet to have 21 ministers