On Tuesday (1.06.2021), the Kerala High Court ordered that Lakshadweep residents who were arrested following a protest in Kiltan Island should be released.
The High Court on Tuesday issued directions to Chief Judicial Magistrate at Amani, Lakshadweep for the release of island residents.
A division bench comprising Justice A Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Kauser Edappagath ordered the release of the protesters after considering a petition by Sayed Mohammed Koya through advocate R Rohith.
It was contended by the petitioner that the protesters were remanded by the executive magistrate for no reason even though the case registered against them by Kilthan police if for bailable offenses. The petitioner contended that though the offenses invoked against the protesters are bailable, the Executive Magistrate remanded them for no reason.
Lakshadweep Island’s standing counsel submitted that the station house officer and executive magistrate were prepared to release them on bail but they refused to get released on bail. However, the petitioner’s counsel refuted this submission.
The court is not going into the merits of these aspects now, the bench said "liberty of the persons in custody is the most important concern and said they should not be deprived of the means of access to justice". Further, the court ordered the CJM of Amini to take up the case on Tuesday and order their release on the execution of self-bond or conditions CJM deems fit to impose. The court will hear the case on Wednesday
Reason for the protest
23 persons who were arrested in connection with a protest in Kiltan island lashed out on Sunday(30.05.2021) against the authorities after they were denied permission to meet the arrested. They were remanded in judicial custody after they burned an effigy of Collector S Asker Ali on Thursday protesting his remarks on youngsters’ drug abuse in Kiltan'.The protesters were charged under sections 285, 500, 120 (B), 143, and 149 of IPC, and 51 (b) of the Disaster Management Act. The ongoing protests are against the slew of measures proposed by administrator Praful Patel and chart out the future course of action.
