CPI(M) blocks major Kannur road for protest despite pending Kerala High Court case

CPIM protest in Kannur over economic sidelining by Centre, blocking road with pandal, despite pending Kerala High Court case.

Even as a case concerning a Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] area meeting that obstructed traffic at Vanchiyoor in the capital Thiruvananthapuram remains pending in the Kerala High Court, the party occupied a major road in Kannur for a protest, setting up a pandal near the Head Post Office on Tuesday (February 25, 2025)

The demonstration, held under the slogan ‘Isn’t Kerala in India?’, alleges that the Centre is economically sideling the State.

A stage was erected beside the Head Post Office, with a pandal and chairs occupying the road, forcing the traffic to be diverted. Despite the disruption on this busy route, the police and authorities have not intervened to remove the blockade.

The protest follows a series of area marches in the district and is spearheaded by Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM) Central Committee member E.P. Jayarajan.

When contacted, district police chief P. Nidhinraj, however, said that a case has been registered against some CPI(M) party leaders and several others who attended the event.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court, while hearing a contempt case related to the CPI(M)’s Palayam area conference at Vanchiyoor, had observed that while protests are a fundamental right, they do not grant permission to block public road or footpaths.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. observed that any person or group has the right to agitate, but this does not entitle them to set up stages on public roads or pedestrian pathways.