The Kerala High Court on Tuesday held that government funds could not have been spent on the ‘Nava Kerala Citizen Response Programme’ and set aside the order authorising ₹20 crore for the initiative, observing that the expenditure violated the Rules of Business.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. ruled that the manner in which funds were allocated for the programme was not in accordance with the prescribed governmental procedure.
The court was hearing two petitions, including one filed by Kerala Students Union (KSU) state president Aloshious Xavier, which sought to quash the order launching the programme and restrain the State from allegedly misusing public funds for the “personal and political gain of the ruling party or front.”
The petitioners contended that the initiative was not a genuine governmental scheme but a political campaign presented as an official programme. They argued that public money was being deployed to advance the ruling party’s political interests ahead of the 2026 State Assembly elections.
Accepting the challenge to the funding decision, the Bench held that the expenditure incurred for implementing the programme was in breach of the Rules of Business governing financial sanctions and governmental decision-making.
On that ground, the court set aside the order that had authorised the release of ₹20 crore for the programme.
The ruling effectively restrains the State from utilising government funds for the initiative in its present form.
