No stay on slapping UAPA on P Jayarajan

Kochi: A division bench of the High Court on Monday declined to grant a stay to a single bench order endorsing the decision of the investigation agency to slap UAPA against the accused in the Kathiroor Manoj murder case against CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan and others. The bench has accepted the appeal filed by Jayarajan and other accused and issued notices to the government and CBI, the investigation agency.

The single bench has upheld slapping UAPA against Jayarajan and five others in the case. The CPM district secretary and others challenged the decision of the CBI on the ground that the permission of the state government was not taken for registering case under the UAPA. The single bench rejected the contention on the ground that the Union Government had granted permission in this regard.

The single bench however has directed the trial court to consider whether there was any impropriety in using UAPA against Jayarajan and others in the case by the investigation agency. The division bench declined to grant the stay on the ground that the matter is under the consideration of the trial court.