The Kerala High Court on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, issued notice in a contempt plea filed against the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association. The petition accuses ASHA workers of holding a prolonged protest in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram by obstructing public roads and footpaths since February 10, 2025.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. passed an interim order acknowledging the prima facie case made out by the petitioner. The protest allegedly violates a court directive prohibiting demonstrations on public roads.
“…in connection with an agitation conducted by the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association in front of a government sector, in which Respondents 9 to 13 are its office bearers/members... Notice shall be issued in Form No. 1... The personal presence of Respondents 5 to 8 shall be dispensed with for the time being.” — Kerala High Court Interim Order
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Photographic and video evidence was submitted by the petitioner to support the claim that the protest setup includes chairs and structures placed directly on the road and footpath, disrupting vehicular and pedestrian movement. The court has currently issued notices to respondents 5 to 13, including both official authorities and association leaders, while dispensing with notices to others temporarily.
The matter is scheduled to be heard again after three weeks for further appearance.
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Background of the Contempt Case
The contempt plea alleges violation of a previous judgment dated June 23, 2010, in WP(C) No. 19253 of 2010. That ruling explicitly prohibited government departments, including the PWD, Police, and Local Bodies, from granting permission for protests on public roads or margins.
Despite this order, the ASHA workers’ protest—supported by several political figures including MLAs Ramesh Chennithala, M. Vincent, K. K. Rema, and former MLA Joseph M. Puthuserry—is said to be in gross violation of the court’s earlier directives.
“The contempt petition highlights that public roads and footpaths are being encroached upon day and night, causing obstruction to traffic and violating public rights,” stated the petitioner.
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The protest has been driven by demands for increased honorarium—from the current ₹7,000 to ₹21,000—as well as retirement benefits and clearance of pending payments. ASHA workers have argued that their essential health services deserve fair compensation and long-term support.
The petitioner further asserted that the police are legally bound to remove such encroachments from public spaces, as per the court’s earlier instructions. However, no steps were taken to dismantle the protest installations that block the Secretariat’s surrounding roads.
“Authorities are duty-bound to prevent and remove illegal obstructions on public roads, and their failure amounts to contempt of court,” the petition alleges.
Case Title: N. Prakash v. Ramesh Chennithala MLA & Ors.
Case No: Con. Case (Civil) No. 481/2025
