SEC Restores Congress Candidate's Name In Voters List, Kerala High Court Closes Her Plea

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (November 20) closed the plea preferred by 24-year-old Vyshna, the Youth Congress candidate of Muttada Division of Trivandrum Corporation, regarding deletion of her name from the voters list.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan was informed that the State Election Commission (SEC) had passed dated 19.11.2025 by which it had set aside the decision and notice issued by the Electoral Registration Officer, regarding deletion of her name.

The plea was based on Vyshna's grievance regarding the deletion of her and her parents' names from the voters list based merely on a objection filed by the Branch Secretary of CPI, Dhanesh Kumar (3rd respondent), alleging that the petitioner is not an ordinary resident of the ward she is contesting in.

Even though Vyshna's and her parents names were there in the draft and final voters' lists, she was served with a notice issued by the Electoral Registration Officer stating that their names were deleted from the voters list. 

Considering the 3rd respondent's objection, the Electoral Registration Officer issued notice and conducted a hearing. The petitioner produced several documents, including her Aadhar card, driving licence and passport to prove her residence while the 3rd respondent did not produce any along with his objection. According to her, the 3rd respondent was not even present at the hearing. Even then, the Electoral Registration Officer acted arbitrarily and deleted the names.

After she was issued with the notice regarding deletion of her name, she had submitted an appeal against the same before the District Collector. Since the electoral roll would be freezed by November 21, and apprehending that her appeal would not be entertained because of political influence, the petitioner had come before the High Court.

The Court had then intervened in the matter and opined that the SEC should decide the candidate's grievance by Wednesday (November 19). The petitioner and the 3rd respondent, accordingly, were directed to appear before the SEC.

Case No: WP(C) 43131 of 2025

Case Title: Vyshna S.L. v. State Election Commission and Ors.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 769

Counsel for the petitioner: George Poonthottan (Sr.), Nisha George, Anshin K.K. and Silpa Sreekumar.