A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday sought the response of the State government on a petition seeking to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan and Kiran Narayanan, former Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner, and others for allowing to organise an event, Vanitha Jwala Junction, at the Balaramapuram junction in Thiruvananthapuram on January 3, in violation of the High Court judgment against holding meeting on roads.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu passed the order when a petition filed by lawyer Kulathoor Jaisingh came up for hearing. According to the petitioner, the High Court had restrained the government departments, including PWD and police, from granting permission to hold meetings on public roads and road margins.

Road blocked

The High Court had also held that if the meeting is held, the police should remove the stage and other installations. The petitioner said the function held at the Balaramapuram junction, a hub of business activities, was inaugurated by Kiran Narayanan, former Thiruvanthapuram City Police Commissioner and now Kollam City Police Commissioner. The police had blocked the road with barricades and police protection was provided for the meeting, he alleged.