Overview
- The Kerala High Court on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 declared the oaths of 20 BJP councillors in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation invalid because they invoked specific deities, martyrs or individuals instead of using the statutory wording.
- Justice P. V. Kunhikrishnan directed the state to arrange fresh oath ceremonies within four weeks and said the only lawful forms are swearing 'in the name of God' or making a solemn affirmation.
- Nineteen of the 20 councillors retook the oath hours after the ruling at the Corporation; councillor R. Sugathan could not because he is detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act.
- The court preserved the councillors' electoral mandate and ruled no penalties should be imposed, and it held that actions already taken by the Corporation councillors are protected under Section 531 of the Kerala Municipality Act.
- A separate Vadakkencherry panchayat member whose oath invoked Oommen Chandy had his prior acts declared invalid because the Panchayat Raj Act lacks a Section 531‑style protection, and the ruling has triggered immediate political and legal disputes over procedure and enforcement.