Kerala High Court Advocates Stringent Measures Against Political Defection

The Kerala High Court has recommended the implementation of a stringent anti-defection law and the imposition of financial penalties on defectors to address corrupt practices like political defections. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas expressed concerns about the inefficiency of current anti-defection laws in curbing the practice, describing it as detrimental to democracy.

The court emphasized that defection undermines not only the political party but also the will of the people who elected the candidate. Justice Thomas suggested that imposing financial penalties on defectors could be a deterrent and urged the legislature to consider such measures seriously.

The observations came while considering petitions challenging the Kerala State Election Commission’s decision not to disqualify a municipal council member, Mathew Joseph, who switched parties after being elected in 2020.