Cancel leave granted to jailed BJP councillor Sugathan, says UDF
UDF leader K.S. Sabarinadhan has requested the cancellation of leave granted to jailed BJP councillor R. Sugathan, citing municipal rules regarding absenteeism. The request follows the state government's decision to withdraw an order that previously allowed the Mayor to grant such leave to the incarcerated official.
Why it matters
Addresses the legal and ethical standards for elected officials who are unable to perform their duties due to criminal incarceration.
With the Local Self Government Department withdrawing a previous order which enabled Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh to grant six months leave to jailed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sugathan, United Democratic Front (UDF) parliamentary party leader K.S. Sabarinadhan on Wednesday sent a letter to the Corporation Secretary asking him to request the State government to to cancel the decision to grant leave. According to the letter, as per the Section 91(k) of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, if any elected councillor is absent from three consecutive council/standing committee meetings without the permission of the council, he should be disqualified from continuing as a councillor. Mr. Sugathan is remanded in custody in Viyyur Jail under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007. He did not attend the council meetings held on May 10 and June 29.
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