Kerala High Court Asks State Election Commission to Respond on Mosque Polling Booth Controversy
In a recent development in Kochi, the Kerala High Court has stepped in to address a heated dispute over using a mosque as a polling station for upcoming local body elections. On Monday, the court directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to file a response to a petition challenging this decision in the Kummanodu ward of Kizhakkambalam panchayat, Ernakulam district. These local body polls are expected to happen by the end of the year, making this issue timely for Kerala voters.
Justice C.S. Dias heard the case briefly and scheduled the next hearing for September 15. "Learned Standing Counsel seeks time to file a statement. Post next Monday," the court ordered, giving the SEC some breathing room to prepare its side.
The petition comes from the Twenty20 Party, a nonprofit group backed by Kitex Garments under the Anna Kitex Group, along with local resident Sreesha P.D. They argue that turning a mosque into a polling booth goes against the SEC’s own rules and hurts the spirit of neutrality and secularism in elections. Petitioners point out that a January 25 circular from the SEC clearly tells district election officers to steer clear of places of worship, hospitals, and police stations. The goal? To keep voting safe and unbiased for everyone.
"Why risk it?" the plea asks. They say setting up a polling station in a mosque could make people think the election process favors one religion, which clashes with India’s constitutional values. Places of worship are all about faith and community ties, so holding polls there might sway voters or even scare folks from other groups. It’s a big concern for fair elections in Kerala.
This isn’t the first time trouble has brewed at this spot. Back in the 2020 panchayat elections, violence broke out at the same mosque when it served as a polling booth. Authorities had to move it for later Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Even now, locals suggested better options like an Anganwadi centre or the nearby Government UP School in Kummanodu. But the Panchayat Secretary allegedly pushed ahead with the mosque plan without talking to residents.
Frustrated voters, including Sreesha, wrote to the District Collector (Election) on August 20, asking to shift the booth to a neutral spot. When that went unanswered, they headed straight to the Kerala High Court for help. As the case unfolds, it highlights ongoing debates about secularism in Kerala elections and how polling stations are chosen to keep things fair.
Stay tuned for updates on this Kerala local body elections controversy—could it change how we vote in places of worship?
