Holding that the taking of oath of office in the name of Allah is constitutional, the Kerala High Court on Friday said any move to prevent this would defeat the secular character of the nation.

Dismissing a public interest litigation seeking a declaration that 11 legislators, who had taken oath in the name of Allah, be disqualified, a division bench of Justices J B Koshy and V Ramkumar held that Allah is a synonym of 'God' and hence, taking oath in the name of Allah is constitutional.

Taking oath in the name of Allah is taking oath in the name of God, they said. The bench observed that the legislators had taken the oath in their personal capacity and not on behalf of voters of their constituencies.

The PIL was filed by Madhu Parumala, vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.