Relief for Vellappally Natesan as Kerala HC Division Bench stays single judge order disqualifying SNDP Yogam leaders

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday (March 23, 2026) stayed an order passed by a single judge of the court on March 12 that disqualified general secretary of SNDP Yogam Vellappally Natesan and other office-bearers from their posts in the organisation.

The Division Bench was hearing appeals filed by Mr. Natesan, his son Tushar Vellappally, vice-president of the Yogam, and a few other directors of the organisation challenging the single judge order.

While ordering their disqualification, the single judge had held that the Yogam failed to file audited accounts for three consecutive years. The judge had also observed that they did not have the director identification number (DIN) issued by the Kerala government.

The Division Bench observed that the appellants had the DIN and that they cannot be held liable (for any omission) under the Companies Act, since rules regarding the registration of DIN as applicable in Kerala were yet to be framed.

The appellants had also contested the single judge’s observations that the Yogam had failed to file audited accounts for three consecutive years, citing that the delays if any, had been condoned by the government. The High Court had on March 16 ordered status quo on the single judge order.