'Cannot Take Oath in the Name of Deities'

In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has clarified that elected representatives of local bodies cannot deviate from the prescribed words while taking oath. They can either take the oath in the name of God or solemnly affirm without invoking God’s name.

The court declared the oath taken by some councillors of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation and a panchayat member invalid as they added names of Hindu deities, Bharat Mata, Gurudev, political martyrs, and other personalities.

Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan emphasised that the oath is a solemn promise to the Constitution and the people. Adding extra words is against the law. The court directed the representatives to retake the oath correctly within four weeks.

The court, however, protected the actions already taken by the Thiruvananthapuram councillors but ruled that the panchayat member’s previous decisions stand invalid.