R Sugathan to take oath in jail; first time in state’s history

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala High Court has permitted Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Councilor R Sugathan, who is in jail after being arrested in the KAAPA case, to take oath in jail. The oath-taking will take place on Tuesday at 11 am in the jail superintendent's room at Viyyur jail. The court also directed that necessary facilities be made available for the oath-taking. This is the first time in the state that a public representative is taking oath in jail.

The high court had invalidated the oath of 20 ward councillors for illegally taking oaths in the name of gods. One of them, Sugathan, has to take the oath before the end of the term granted by the court. The court then took this unusual step. The court also allowed some journos having accreditation to enter the jail during the oath-taking.