With the Local Self Government Department withdrawing a previous order which enabled Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.V. Rajesh to grant six months leave to jailed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor R. Sugathan, United Democratic Front (UDF) parliamentary party leader K.S. Sabarinadhan on Wednesday sent a letter to the Corporation Secretary asking him to request the State government to to cancel the decision to grant leave.
According to the letter, as per the Section 91(k) of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, if any elected councillor is absent from three consecutive council/standing committee meetings without the permission of the council, he should be disqualified from continuing as a councillor. Mr. Sugathan is remanded in custody in Viyyur Jail under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007.
He did not attend the council meetings held on May 10 and June 29. On July 31, the letter was sent through the Prison Department requesting that parole be granted to the applicant to attend the Council. Based on this letter, the Mayor granted him leave in violation of Kerala Municipality Rules, said Mr.Sabarinahan. The accused had sent the letter based on a response from the LSGD and Home Departments, which suggested that he could get leave by sending a letter through the Jail Superintendent and if the council approves this request through voting.
