Kochi: Kerala High Court on Thursday criticised Kozhikode District Collector N. Prasanth for not complying with the order to impose Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) on Suhail Thangal, a goon. A division bench comprising Justice K.T. Sankaran and Justice K.P. Jyothindranath made several oral observations against minister Prasanth for repeatedly refusing to comply with the orders.
The court on April 7 had asked the Collector to impose KAAPA on Thangal, a native of Wayanad, but he refused to do it citing various reasons. Irked by his stand, the court asked the State Attorney to submit its stand and adjourned the case. The court was considering a petition filed by Adv Sapna against the collector, who is also the District Magistrate.
According to the petitioner, Thangal is involved in six criminal cases, including under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. He is involved in cases of immoral traffic of women and in supplying minor girls for sexual harassment. The court on April 7 had recorded the submission of the collector that he was prepared to correct himself and that he will pass the orders within one week.
The collector, however, passed another order four days later finding that Thangal has to be detained under KAAPA, but as he is convicted and detained at present following the judgment and sentence in a sessions case, there was no need for a detention order.
