Kerala High Court quashes order abolishing Kerala Police Officers Association, cites Article 19(1)(c)

29 September 2026

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas of the Kerala High Court quashed a government order of 27 July 2026 that abolished the Kerala Police Officers Association (KPOA).
The order had also reconstituted the Kerala Police Association with additional ranks and provided for sharing of assets in a 60:40 ratio.
It had set up ad hoc committees to run the associations and fixed elections by 30 September 2026.
The court held the order was an intrusion on the petitioner's rights under Article 19(1)(c) and legally invalid, as members were not consulted.
The ad hoc committees were also quashed.