Kerala High Court Invalidates Oaths Taken by 20 Councillors Over Statutory Violations

The Kerala High Court has officially invalidated the oaths taken by 20 councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ruling that the statutory oath cannot be modified to include personal religious or political references. The court directed the members, including Deputy Mayor Ashanath G.S., to retake their oaths in the prescribed format within four weeks. The ruling stems from a petition filed by CPI(M) leader Deepak SP, who challenged the councillors' decision to invoke deities, Bharat Mata, and RSS figures during the swearing-in ceremony on December 21, 2025.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan observed that elected representatives must adhere strictly to the format outlined in the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, and the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, which mandate an oath in the name of God or a solemn affirmation. The court emphasized that the statute does not permit the substitution or addition of personal belief-based terminology. The ruling also affected a village panchayat councillor in Palakkad who had taken the oath in the name of a former Congress leader, highlighting a consistent judicial stance against the personalization of constitutional duties.

The BJP-led administration, which governs the corporation, has confirmed it will comply with the court order, with Mayor V.V. Rajesh stating that affected members will participate in a new ceremony. One councillor, R. Sugathan, who is currently incarcerated under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) in connection to a temple festival clash, must also comply with the order. The incident represents another political hurdle for the BJP, which has faced mounting pressure from opposition parties over governance issues, including city waste management and recent waterlogging crises.