Kerala High Court frowns at Mani slur

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition seeking to register a case against Power Minister M.M. Mani for his recent outbursts against mediapersons. The court, however, made it clear that the dismissal of the petitions does not mean that the bench had sanctified the utterances allegedly made by the minister.

The court accepted the contentions of the state and observed,  “if the petitioners find that the alleged utterances by the minister are such that the courts or police can take cognizance,  then it is open to  them to move the appropriate forum and the appropriate authority would take action in accordance with law, but that cannot be pre-empted by this court in any manner.”

 It  held that unless it is alleged that the authorities have aggravated their statutory functions either under the influence of the person being a minister or otherwise, this court cannot interfere.

The state argued that there was no formal complaint anywhere prior to the filing of the plea. Subsequent to the plea being filed before the High Court,  a complaint was given  to the police commissioner who has already inquired into the matter and  opined that no cognizable offence had  been committed,

The counsel for the petitioner was  unable to show whether the utterances amounted to cognizable offence, the state said.