A Kerala court on Thursday said sanction for prosecution from the Governor was required to register a case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with a conflict that occurred during the Navakerala Sadas, the State government’s outreach programme.

The court of Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate also observed that the Governor’s sanction was required for prosecuting people’s representatives.

The observation came on a plea by Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas seeking registering of a case against Mr. Vijayan in connection with the various instances of violence during the outreach programme in 2023.

The court is scheduled to take up the matter next on November 1.

Kerala Students Union and Youth Congress workers were allegedly assaulted by activists of the CPI(M)’s Democratic Youth Federation of India and the security personnel of the Chief Minister at various places across the State for showing black flags to Mr. Vijayan during the programme.