Thiruvananthapuram, 09 July (H.S.):

In a temporary relief to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a court has granted interim bail to Thiruvananthapuram Corporation councillor R. Sugathan to enable him to take the oath of office as a councillor following a recent Kerala High Court directive.

The Nedumangad First Class Judicial Magistrate Court allowed Sugathan interim bail from 5 p.m. on July 13 until 9 p.m. on July 14 exclusively for the purpose of taking the oath. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for the morning of July 14.

The Kerala High Court had recently invalidated the oath taken by 20 BJP councillors of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation after ruling that they had sworn in using the names of various deities and martyrs instead of following the statutory format. The court directed all 20 councillors to retake the oath in accordance with the law.

While the remaining 19 BJP councillors have already completed the fresh oath-taking process, Sugathan was unable to do so as he has been lodged in Viyyur Central Jail in connection with an attempt-to-murder case. Failing to retake the oath within the stipulated period would have resulted in the loss of his councillor post. He also risked disqualification for missing three consecutive Corporation council meetings.

The magistrate court granted the 28-hour interim bail in connection with the attempt-to-murder case and another case alleging assault on police personnel. However, Sugathan is also detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA), meaning he cannot be released from prison unless the Kerala High Court also grants him temporary relief from the preventive detention order.

Based on the magistrate court's order, Sugathan's lawyers are expected to move the High Court seeking permission for his temporary release.

The court has made it clear that Sugathan's release is strictly limited to taking the oath. He must leave the Corporation Council Hall immediately after the ceremony and is prohibited from participating in any council meetings or other official proceedings during the period of interim bail.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman