Cleansing of office: HC quashes case

The Kerala High Court on Friday quashed the criminal proceedings against the four accused, who allegedly sprinkled water laced with cow dung in the office of the Inspector General (Registration), for the offence of atrocity, under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, the court directed the Vanchiyoor police to proceed the case against the accused under Section 451 of the IPC (trespass) and has asked to file a final report.

The office of former IG (Registration) A K  Ramakrishnan, was allegedly ‘cleansed’ by  some employees, by sprinkling water laced with cow dung, soon after he retired from service. According to a complaint filed by Ramakrishnan, the ‘purification ceremony’ was performed as he belonged to an SC community and it amounted to the violation of his human rights and civil liberties. However, counsel for the petitioners, Blaze K Jose, submitted that the complete absence of factual basis to constitute the offence under the SC/ST Act, and the criminal proceedings lodged against the petitioners should be quashed, he said.

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