'Heard For 25 Days': Kerala High Court Questions Independent Candidate For Seeking Review Of Order Upholding Suresh Gopi's Election

Independent candidate Joshi Villadom moved the Kerala High Court seeking to review the dismissal of his election petition challenging the victory of Union Minister Suresh Gopi from Thrissur Parliamentary Constituency in 2024.

Villadom has sought for the review of the judgment alleging that he was not heard.

The review petition, which was unnumbered, was posted today (June 5) before Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath after the Registry had noted three defects.

When the matter came up for consideration, the Court orally asked Villadom, who was appearing in person, to read out the first sentence in the synopsis of his review petition.

Villadom read out, "The judgment was passed without considering audi alteram partem."

The Court then orally questioned the party-in-person why such a wrong submission was made when it had heard him on multiple occasions.

However, Villadom submitted that he was only heard for one day. At this juncture, the Court orally remarked that it had heard his "arguments for at least 25 days" and there are records and videos to prove that. The Court further orally told him not to lie in court adding that there are punishments for lying in court.

Thereafter, the Court explained the defects noted by the Registry and directed him to cure the same. It further orally told the party-in-person that when the review petition gets posted after the defects are cured, the recordings of the hearings in cassettes can be shown to him.

Case No: RP 571/ 2026 (Filing No.) in El.Pet. 1/2025

Case Title: Joshi Villadom v. Suresh Gopi