People's Democracy

KERALA

CPI(M) Leader Comes out of Jail amid Waving Red Flags

N S Sajith

M V Jayarajan, a member of the CPI(M)’s Kerala state committee, has been released from the Thiruvananthapuram Central Jail following a bail granted him by the Supreme Court. He was ordered six-month imprisonment by Kerala High Court in a contempt of court case. On Tuesday, November 15, the Supreme Court granted him bail, while criticising the High Court verdict.

A Supreme Court bench comprising H L Gokhale and R L Lodha accepted Jayarajan’s appeal and granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 10000 and asked him to remit Rs 2000.

The bench also snubbed the stand of the High Court which denied Jayarajan a chance to file an appeal against its judgement. The bench said this aspect of the High Court’s order was exceptional. 

In his appeal, Jayarajan had said that the High Court verdict was prejudiced. The Supreme Court observed that the High Court’s act was vengeful and that the language of a judgement should be fair.

While welcoming the Supreme Court’s order, CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the party’s stand in the case has been vindicated and that the Supreme Court order will strengthen the judiciary.

Jayarajan was given a warm reception by party workers in the jail premises and also addressed a massive public meeting organised in Poojappura.

After completing the formalities, Jayarajan came out of jail at 4.15 in the evening. High Court officials had reached the prison at 3 o’clock. Central Committee members P K Sreemathi and Vaikom Vishwan visited Jayarajan prior to the release. V Sivankutty and K V Abdul Khader (MLAs), along with party workers, entered the jail to bring him out and garlanded him near the prison gate. Thousands of CPI(M) workers who had gathered there, raised slogans when Jayarajan came out.

At the public meeting in Poojappura, Jayarajan said everyone is subject to criticism in a democratic polity. People’s protest is being strengthened all over the world. The Kerala assembly had passed an act to uphold the people’s right to hold roadside meetings. Now Oommen Chandy must show the courage to implement the act, he said.

PROTEST

NEAR HIGH COURT

Earlier, the CPI(M) organised a massive people’s meet near the Kerala High Court on November 14. Thousands of people from all walks of life attended the “Janakeeya Kottayma” (people’s gathering), in a campaign to defend human rights, against the backdrop of M V Jayarajan’s imprisonment for the so-called contempt of court. This was the first gathering in history before a High Court.

There were no slogans, no speeches, no marches or dharna as the people gathered on the spot between 8 a m and 2 p m. Unlike other protest programmes, this gathering did not hinder the functioning of any office and even the road traffic.

A day before, city police commissioner M R Ajith Kumar had sent a notice to CPI(M) state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, threatening him not to disturb the functioning of the Kerala High Court or public life during the event failing which he (Vijayan) was to be held responsible. This was not the party’s idea, in any case.

Around 30,000 people attended the peaceful gathering, with thousands of placards reading “People are Supreme in a Democracy!” Quotations from Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Ruma Pal regarding the worthlessness of contempt of court idea were also inscribed on the placards. They also mentioned the High Court’s denial of Jayarajan’s right to appeal against its judgement.

Around 2,000 policemen were deployed at the High Court gates.

Workers from the CITU, DYFI, SFI and AIDWA also participated in the protest. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Central Committee members P K Sreemathi, M C Josephine, Dr. T M Thomas Isaac and Vaikom Viswan, DYFI state president P Sreeramakrishnan (MLA) and SFI state president P K Biju (MP) also led the protest.

Detailed trial of the case will take place in Supreme Court in July 2012.