Kerala HC disposes of petitions seeking deployment of Central forces

The Kerala High Court has disposed of petitions seeking the deployment of adequate number of Central forces personnel in violence-prone areas in Kerala to ensure free and fair polling in the impending Assembly polls.

The petitions were filed by, among others, former Minister G. Sudhakaran, who recently severed ties with the CPI(M) and is contesting as a UDF-backed Independent candidate for the Ambalappuzha Assembly constituency.

Another demand was to install web cameras at polling booths in such areas.

While closing the petitions, the court observed that the Election Commission of India (EC) has submitted an assurance that adequate measures would be taken in this regard. The court added that the EC is duty bound to ensure free and fair polling.

Apart from Mr. Sudhakaran, a few UDF and UDF-supported candidates had approached the HC seeking the deployment of Central forces in the polls.