Oath in name of Sree Narayana Guru kicks up a storm
Councillor Rijesh C. Breezevilla part of SNDP’s front
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-13 06:18 GMT
Kottayam: Rijesh C. Breezevilla, a councillor of Samathva Munnani from the 40th ward of Kottayam municipality, has triggered a row by taking the oath of office in the name of Sree Narayana Guru.
The munnani was floated by the SNDP. Another candidate Kunjumon Mather, a Muslim League councillor from the 48th ward, took the oath in the name of ‘Allah’.
Protesting against this, the Opposition CPM decided to petition the returning officer pointing to the unconstitutionality of the oath of the two.
JSS MLA from Kodungalloor, Umesh Challyial, had taken the oath in the name of Sree Narayana Guru in 2001. Later in 2003, the High Court had maintained it as unconstitutional on the basis of a petition filed by journalist Haridasan Palayil.
A division bench of the court had also imposed a fine of Rs 500 per day for attending the Assembly sessions. Mr Challiyil undertook the oath in ‘God’s name’ later.
C.N. Sathyaneshan, CPM councillor, said that such practices amount to violation of the Constitution.
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