Kerala Woman Allegedly Detained By Police For Wearing Black Attire To Nava Kerala Yatra Moves High Court

The woman alleged that she was taken into police custody and was detained for more than 7 hours since she wore black attire. She submitted in her plea that her only intention was to see Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whom she had otherwise seen only on Television and Media.

The plea alleged that the woman was only released from police custody after the Nava Kerala Yatra left the Kollam district. Her plea also averred that she has no active role in politics, was not a part of any criminal activity and has not raised any protests against the Nava Kerala Yatra.

Her plea stated that every citizen has the right to wear any colour of attire of their choice decently and that she had no intention to create any trouble in the Nava Kerala Yatra. In her plea, she alleged that she was detained only because her husband was a politician belonging to an opposition party.

The woman also alleged that her fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution were violated. Her plea further stated that illegal detention by the police had defamed her family. She submitted that she was publicly humiliated and her children were in a state of shock and panic to hear about their mother's detention by the police.

The Single bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran will hear the matter next week.

Counsel for the petitioner: Advocate Resmi A

Counsel for the respondents: Government Pleader Sunil Kumar Kuriakose

Case title: Archana L v State of Kerala

Case number: WP(C) No. 43558/ 2023