K.Gopalakrishnan, S/o.K.N.Kesavan vs State Police Chief

N.Nagaresh, J

The petitioner, who is a Senior Citizen and a Milk Farmer, is before this Court seeking to direct respondents 2 to 4 to afford adequate and effective police protection to the petitioner and the Milk Producers of the 7th respondent-Co-operative Society for their effective participation in the election to the Board of Directors of the 7th respondent-Co-operative Society, from the threat of respondents 11 to 14 and their henchmen.

The petitioner states that the election to the Iverkala Milk Producers Co-operative Society Limited, Kollam is scheduled to be held on 08.06.2023. As the elections are being contested on political lines, there is a likelihood of law and order problem and free and fair election will be possible only if respondents 2 to 4 extend adequate police protection. The petitioner would contend that at the time of scrutiny of nominations, the petitioner was threatened by the persons belonging to rival group.

Government Pleader submitted that the election being to a Co-operative Society, in the ordinary course, authorities will be deploying sufficient number of police personnel to ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful manner.

I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader representing respondents 1 to 6, the learned Standing Counsel Sri.N.Anand representing the 7th respondent and respective Standing Counsel representing respondents 8 to 10. Notice to respondents 11 to 14 is dispensed with in view of the nature of the relief to be granted in this writ petition.

Since election to the 7th respondent-Co-operative Society is scheduled to be held on 08.06.2023 and going by the averments in the writ petition, there is a likelihood of law and order issues, it will be in the interest of justice that respondents 2 to 4 extend adequate police protection to the smooth conducting of the election.

The writ petition is therefore disposed of directing respondents 2 to 4 to deploy adequate police personnel to the election to the Co-operative Society and maintain law and order for the smooth conduct of election. Such deployment of police shall be continued during the counting of the votes also.