In W.P. (C) 18389 OF 2023- KERL HC- Kerala High Court directs State Police to extend protection for smooth conduct of elections to the Board of Directors of Iverkala Milk Producers Co-operative Society, being contested on political lines
Justice N. Nagaresh [07-06-2023]

Read Order: K. Gopalakrishnan v. The State Police Chief Police Head Quarters

Simran Singh

New Delhi, June 8, 2023: The Kerala High Court, in view of the elections to the Board of Directors of the Iverkala Milk Producers Co-operative Society Limited, Kollam being held on 08.06.202, has  directed the State Police Chief Police Head Quarters to extend adequate police protection for the smooth conduction of the election which was to continue during counting of the votes as well.

In the matter at hand, the petitioner who was a Senior Citizen and a Milk Farmer, sought for directions to respondents 2 to 4 to afford adequate and effective police protection to the petitioner and the Milk Producers for their effective participation in the election to the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Society (7th respondent), from the threat of respondents 11 to 14 and their henchmen.

It was the case of the petitioners that the election to the Iverkala Milk Producers Co-operative Society Limited, Kollam was scheduled to be held on 08.06.2023. As the elections were being contested on political lines, there was a likelihood of law and order problem and free and fair election would only be possible if there is adequate police protection.  It was further averted that at the time of scrutiny of nominations, the petitioner was threatened by the persons belonging to rival group.

The Government Pleader had submitted that the election being to a Co-operative Society, in the ordinary course, authorities would be deploying sufficient number of police personnel to ensure that the election was conducted in a peaceful manner.

The Court was of the view that there was a likelihood of law and order issues and it will be in the interest of justice that respondents 2 to 4 extend adequate police protection for the smooth conduction of the election. The writ petition was therefore disposed of directing respondents 2 to 4 to deploy adequate police personnel to the election to the Co-operative Society and maintain law and order and such deployment of police would be continued during the counting of the votes as well.