The Kerala High Court has suspended its two officials, including an Assistant Registrar, over staging a skit that allegedly had derogatory  content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and criticised the Central government  in a Republic Day event.

The Kerala High Court  Registrar General P Krishna Kumar   on Friday has suspended its Assistant Registrar Sudhish TA and Court Keeper Sudheesh PM pending enquiry in relation to the skit performed during the Court’s official Republic Day function mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central Government schemes

Chief Justice A.J. Desai has also sought a detailed explanation from the Registrar (administration) as to the circumstances in which the incident took place.The Registrar (vigilance) has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report

The skit was performed by the staff of the High Court during the Republic Day Celebrations held on 26 January 2024 at the High Court Auditorium.

Complaints were filed by Bharathiya Abhibashaka Parishad and Legal Cell Ernakulam alleging that the skit mocked the Central Government initiative ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’. It was alleged that the skit was performed to defame and insult the administrative heads of the country by copying the words and style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Further, it was alleged that the skit was politically motivated, derogatory,objectionable and contrary to the Code of Conduct and Service Rules of the High Court of Kerala.”The most unfortunate incident in the history of Kerala High Court wherein an official programme of the High Court had been used as a platform to mock the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India by insulting him personally and criticising social welfare schemes of the Central Government”, says the complaint by Bharathiya Abhibashaka Parishad sent to Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice of the High Court, Union Law Minister and the Prime Minister

It has been reported that  “Cow dung” jibe has been used against supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming the Prime Minister.Assistant Registrar Sudhish TA reportedly wrote the dialogues for the skit.

As per reports, at least three Judges of the High Court were in the audience during the official function watching the skit. Apart from the staff of the High Court, the staff of the Advocate General’s office and Advocates’ Clerks were also part of the skit

“If I say that it has medicinal value, my followers will even eat cow dung. That is my strength”, a political leader looking like Prime Minister Modi, with a white beard,  reportedly saying  in the skit.

“I have left my family to travel the world. Yet the people are ungrateful”,  the political leader  reportedly in the skit.  It has been reported that the skit mocks ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ of the Central government, calling it ‘Jal Dhara Mission’ instead