The Kerala High Court has acquitted former MLA A.T. George and three other UDF members in the 2015 Assembly scuffle case. This verdict leaves LDF leaders as the sole defendants in the ongoing trial regarding the destruction of public property.

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  • Kerala High Court acquitted former MLA A.T. George, completing the exoneration of all four UDF MLAs.
  • The case stems from a violent protest on March 13, 2015, during the budget presentation.
  • LDF leaders still face trial for damaging public property worth ₹2,20,093.
  • The Supreme Court previously rejected the LDF government's plea to withdraw the vandalism charges.

In a significant judicial development, the Kerala High Court has acquitted former MLA A.T. George in the long-standing Assembly scuffle case. Justice C.S. Days' bench delivered the verdict, effectively granting a clean chit to all four United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs involved in the incident. The case dates back to March 13, 2015, when LDF MLAs staged a violent protest to prevent the then Finance Minister K.M. Mani from presenting the state budget.

The core of the allegations against the UDF leaders was that they had harassed and obstructed female LDF MLAs, including K.K. Lathika, Jamila Prasasham, and Geetha Gopi. Earlier in 2024, the court had already acquitted K. Shivadasan Nair, M.A. Wahid, and Dominic Presentation. With the acquittal of A.T. George, the legal proceedings against the UDF camp have completely collapsed.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the LDF's strategy to create a 'counter-case' to balance the narrative of vandalism has failed. By pushing for a Crime Branch investigation in 2023, the ruling front attempted to frame the 2015 chaos as a mutual clash. However, the court's refusal to accept these claims isolates the LDF leaders, making them the sole culprits in the eyes of the law regarding the destruction of the Assembly's infrastructure.

The judiciary has sent a clear message that parliamentary immunity does not extend to the deliberate destruction of public property.

While the UDF is free, the LDF leaders remain under the scanner. They are facing charges under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act for storming the Speaker's podium and destroying chairs, computers, and electronic panels. The estimated loss was calculated at ₹2,20,093. Prominent leaders such as V. Sivankutty, K.T. Jaleel, and E.P. Jayarajan are currently undergoing trial.

Historical records indicate that while the LDF was in power, they sought the intervention of the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and the High Court to withdraw these cases. However, these petitions were denied. The final nail in the coffin for their plea came in July 2021, when the Supreme Court dismissed the government's appeal to quash the proceedings.

Did You Know?: The Kerala Legislative Assembly is one of the most politically active houses in India, but the 2015 budget clash remains one of the most cited examples of parliamentary disorder in the state's history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why were the UDF MLAs acquitted?
The court found no substantial evidence to support the claims that they had assaulted or harassed female MLAs during the 2015 commotion.

Q2: What happens to the LDF leaders now?
They must continue to face trial for the destruction of public property, as the Supreme Court has already refused to withdraw the case.