JOIN USKerala withdraws cases related to Sabarimala, CAA stir
The Kerala government has decided to withdraw cases registered in connection with the agitations against the Sabarimala women entry issue and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
A statement from the Chief Minister's office said that cases that did not involve serious criminal charges would be withdrawn.
A total of 1,573 cases were registered in the state between September 2018 and January 2019 in connection with protests against the entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50. Over 68,500 people were arraigned in these cases and 12,225 were arrested.
The Opposition Congress and the BJP as well as various Hindu outfits had been demanding the withdrawal of cases registered against thousands of persons in connection with the Sabarimala women entry issue. The Congress had also demanded that the cases registered in connection with protests against CAA should be withdrawn and had announced that once they come to power, the cases would be withdrawn.
Thousands of persons, including many devotees who took part in 'Nama Japa' (Chanting) demonstrations against Sabarimala women entry, were arraigned in the cases. The pendency of the cases was also causing hardships to many in getting police clearance certificates for various purposes like securing jobs. Several individuals were arraigned in more than one case.
Many BJP leaders, including state President K Surendran, were arrested in connection with Sabarimala stirs.