Plea in Kerala High Court to allow voters to file anti-defection petitions against local body members

The petition has been filed by one, Baburaj Thottukara (petitioner), who has sought the ouster of Poulin Thomas from the Eruvessy Grama Panchayat, Kannur district.

Thomas had been elected to this post in the Local Self Government elections of 2020 and had won the election as an independent candidate.

However, Thomas joined the Indian National Congress in 2021.

Citing this change of affiliation, the petitioner approached the SEC seeking the disqualification of Thomas from his post, on the grounds of defection under Section 3 of the Kerala Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act, 1999.

Source: Barandbench