The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the Left Democratic Front-led Kerala government’s petition seeking the withdrawal of criminal cases against six Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders for causing ruckus and vandalism in the state Assembly in 2015, reported Bar and Bench. The LDF was the Opposition party then.
The court ruled that the accused MLAs had crossed constitutional limits and cannot claim protection of legislative privileges and immunity under Article 194 of the Constitution, which ensures freedom of speech of legislators in the Assembly.
“Committing destruction of property in the Assembly cannot be equated to freedom of speech in the House,” the court said. “Allowing withdrawal of cases under these circumstances would amount to interference with the normal course of justice for illegitimate reasons.”
On March 13, 2015, Opposition leaders were protesting then Finance Minister KM Mani’s alleged involvement in a scandal related to corruption in…