Politics · India Bureau
Kerala Assembly Speaker bars display of police lathi in House
The Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker has prohibited the bringing of a fibre lathi into the House following an incident where a CPI(M) legislator displayed a broken police baton during proceedings. The ruling came after the MLA sought to raise concerns about police action against student activists.
LSN India ·
Kerala Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has ruled against permitting the display of a fibre lathi inside the legislative chamber, enforcing parliamentary protocol following an attempt by a ruling party MLA to present the item as evidence during House proceedings.
On October 12, CPI(M) MLA V. Joy displayed a broken fibre police lathi while seeking leave to move an adjournment motion. The legislator had intended to raise concerns regarding police actions against Students Federation of India (SFI) activists in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Speaker's intervention reflects established conventions governing the conduct of legislative proceedings, which typically restrict the introduction of physical objects that could disrupt House functioning or set procedural precedents. Such rulings are common across Indian legislative bodies to maintain decorum and order during debates.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between student organizations and law enforcement authorities in the state, with opposition MLAs continuing to seek opportunities to raise such matters through adjournment motions and other parliamentary procedures available within established rules of business.