HC restrains tahsildars from deleting CPI(M) leaders' names

Kochi, Apr 7 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today restrained the tahsildars of Kannur and Thaliparamba from removing the names of CPI(M) leaders E V Jayarajan and M V Govindan Master from the voters list on the ground that they were not residents in the constituency.

However, Justice S Sirijagan made it clear that the stay order will not apply for taking action if bailable warrants are pending aginst them and they are absconding.

The tahsildars of Kannur and Thaliparamba had issued show cause notices against Mr Jayarajan and Mr Govindan Master to explain as to why their names should not be removed from the voters list.

It was stated in the notice that an enquiry had revealed that both leaders were not ordinarily residents in the constituency.

In their writ petition, the CPI(M) leaders submitted that they were born and brought up at Kannur and therefore the action of the tahsildars was without any justification. They also alleged that the show cause notice was ''instigated'' by Kannur District Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph to ''demoralise'' them.

UNI XR ARC AD/VS1930