Kozhikode orders communal harmony committees in its grama panchayats, chaired by the Station House Officer

5 November 2026

The Kozhikode District Collector has ordered that communal harmony committees be formed in every grama panchayat of the district. The order follows a decision taken at a district-level religious harmony meeting, and District Collector M. S. Madhavikutty issued it. The Station House Officer of the police station concerned chairs each committee, the grama panchayat secretary is its convenor, and the village officer keeps the minutes. Local political, communal and social leaders, elected representatives and officers of other departments concerned are to be brought into it. The committees meet in the first week of every month, and the convenor may call a special meeting on the chairman's direction. Their task is to spot situations that could lead to a law-and-order or communal problem locally, act early, and keep the peace.