'Ooruvilakku' is unconstitutional: HC

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has ruled that imposing an 'ooruvilakku' (social boycott) on Muslim Mahal Jamaat members by the governing bodies was a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice SV Bhatti and Justice A Badaruddin on a petition filed by Ottapalam native PV Kasim, who is a member of the Kakkattiri Juma Masjid Mahal committee. The petitioner had approached the Waqf Board and the Waqf Tribunal against the social boycott. However, the petition was dismissed on the ground that there was no evidence to prove the social boycott.