The Kerala High Court on Monday (August 10) issued notices to Congress MLAs Sajeev Joseph and Rajan J. Pallan, in challenge to their recent Assembly elections.

Justice Easwaran S. issued summons to Joseph, currently serving as Irikkur constituency MLA, and directed the District Election Officer to preserve the electoral papers on Kerala Congress (M) candidate Advocate Mathew Kunnappally's plea.

Meanwhile, Justice Murali Purushothaman issued notice to Pallan, who contested and won from Thrissur.

Joseph's election is challenged on the ground of defective nomination papers.

The documents ordered to be preserved include the nomination papers submitted by candidates along with their affidavits, the copies of affidavits accompanying nominations of candidates as published by the returning officer at his office under section 33A(3) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the original video footages of proceedings of the returning officer at the time of scrutiny of nominations or their copies along with a certificate under section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, the list of recognised political parties supplied to the returning officer by the chief electoral officer, and such other materials as are required to be considered for effective disposal of an election petition.

So far as challenge to Rajan's victory is concerned, the Court noted that the election petition was filed belatedly and observed that it is necessary to issue notice before numbering the petition.

Case Nos: Election Petition No. 1 of 2026 and El. Pet. 11/ 2026 (Filing No.)

Case Titles: Adv. Mathew Kunnappally v. Adv. Sajeev Joseph and Ors. and Joshi v. Rajan J. Pallan

Advocates T. Krishnanunni (Sr.), Vinod Ravindranath, Meena A., Mini M.R., Anish Antony Anathazhath, Thareeq Anver K., Nivedhitha Prem V., Ananthakrishnan A. Kartha, Mariya Joseph, Ameera Jojo and Stephen V. Thomas are appearing for Advocate Mathew Kunnappally.

Click to Read/Download Order dated 06.08.2026