Peaceful and non-violent processions protected under the Constitution: Kerala High Court [Read Order]

The Kerala High Court last week quashed a criminal complaint against former Ernakulam MLA Dominic Presentation for leading a 'human rights protection' procession in 2017. (Dominic Presentation v. State of Kerala and Anr.).A Single Bench of Justice MR Anitha exonerated him of wrongdoing, holding that peaceful, non-violent protests are protected by the Constitution.."... in the particular fact situation of this case there is nothing to show from the records produced that the procession led had become disorderly or noisy. In other words it appears to be a peaceful and non violent procession led by the petitioner and others. Hence their acts are well protected under Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India,"the High Court said..The then-President of the Kerala Chapter of the Congress Party VM Sudheeran had called for a procession to protest the arrest of two Dalit girls in Thalassery. .Dominic Presentation and four others led a procession of almost 200 people in the Ernakulam district and were booked for causing obstruction to the general public and vehicles, and for being part of an unlawful assembly. (Sections 143, 147, 283 read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code).The former MLA argued that the assembly they had formed could hardly be characterised as an unlawful assembly since they had no intention to use criminal force for the purpose of overawing, resisting the execution of law, committing a crime or compelling a person to do an illegal act. .Apart from this, Presentation's counsel Advocate K.L. Joseph submitted that the independent witness arrayed, as well the witnessing police officers only made general statements. No disorderly, unruly behaviour or specific instance of obstruction of traffic or persons was demonstrated, he additionally contended..To buttress this submission, the counsel narrated that the police hesitated in arresting the petitioner and others while the procession was ongoing, anticipating a possible law and order situation. When the arresting Sub-Inspector and others attempted to ease traffic before arresting the petitioner and others, the petitioner and others themselves aided the police, he informed the Court. Therefore, it could not be said that the procession caused obstruction..The Prosecution argued that the procession was one that attracted restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution because it disturbed public order..Accepting the petitioner's stance, the Court found his procession as constitutionally protected under Article 19(1)(a)..Justice Anitha went on to emphasize that all processions or marches were not to be similarly treated but that it would have to be viewed in the light of its own facts. From the material produced, there was nothing to show that the procession, in this case, had turned violent or disorderly.."Some meetings may be peaceful in the beginning and subsequently may turn violent. So a blanket protection cannot be given to all processions or marches under the guise of freedom of speech and expression and peaceful assembly under Article 19(1)(a) and (1)(b) of the Constitution. Each case has to be examined based on its own facts", reads the High Court's order..On these terms, the case was disposed of..Advocates K.L. Joseph and P. Sareena George represented Presentation, and Senior Public Prosecutor D. Chandrasenan represented the State..[Read the Order]