Global Ayyappa Sangamam: Kerala High Court Deprecates Devaswom Board's Delay In Submitting Audited Accounts, Grants 1 Month Extension

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (January 8) deprecated the delay on the part of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in complying with court's direction to submit audited accounts of expenses of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, which was conducted on September 20 in the premises of Sabarimala Shrine and at the banks of the River Pamba.The event was conducted after the Court had given its green signal vide an interim order dated September 9 passed in various pleas challenging the conduct of the event,...

Motor Accident Claim | Kerala High Court Enhances Victim's Notional Income Based On Overseas Remittances Despite Lack Of Formal Salary Proof

The Kerala High Court enhanced the notional income of an accident victim who was employed abroad and had sought compensation under Motor Vehicles Act, based on certain factual aspects even though the claimant had failed to produce salary certificate as per Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oaths and Fees) Act. Justice Harisankar V. Menon was considering two appeals filed against the award passed by the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, one filed by the insurance company and the other by the...

Kerala High Court Constitutes Committee To Address Infrastructural Deficiencies In Mediation Centres In State

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (06 January) constituted a Mediation Infrastructure Committee to address the issues of infrastructural deficiencies in mediation centres across the State.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar V M were considering a suo motu petition concerning the infrastructural requirements of mediation centres, including the adequate support staff and regular office stationary. The Court noted that Kerala currently has 82 mediation...

Pre-Deposit For Filing SARFAESI Appeal Must Be Paid To Tribunal, Not Lending Bank: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has clarified that the mandatory pre-deposit required to file an appeal under the SARFAESI Act must be paid to the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal and not to the lending bank. A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S delivered the ruling while allowing an appeal filed by Kerala Gramin Bank, setting aside a single judge's order that had directed the borrower to deposit money with the bank itself in order to pursue its appeal before the...

Juvenile Justice Act Not Sole Method To Determine Age Of POCSO Victim; Oral & Documentary Evidence Can Be Relied Upon: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court, in a recent ruling, laid down that the provision under the Juvenile Justice Act/Rules is only one of the modes to determine the age of a victim of a POCSO offence.After examining Section 34 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the decisions of the Division Bench in Silvester Pigaruz v. State of Kerala (2024) and Biju v. State of Kerala (2024), Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed:“The POCSO Act does not stipulate in section 34(2) that when the...

Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit Constituted: State Tells Kerala High Court

The Kerala government informed the High Court on Thursday (08 January) that a notification has been issued by the Special Secretary, Government of Kerala, Environment Department constituting Ashtamudi Wetland Management Unit.The submissions were made before the division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar V M which was considering a contempt petition for non-compliance of its judgement dated July, 2025.The Court had directed constitution of a Management Unit within a...

Voluntary Partition Deed Can Confer Property Rights On Female Heir Even Prior To Hindu Succession Act, 1956: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a female heir, who otherwise had no inheritance rights under pre-1956 Hindu law, can acquire valid title through a voluntary partition deed executed by family members.Justice Easwaran S. held that a registered partition deed consciously conferring a share on a female heir cannot be ignored on the ground that she lacked an antecedent right of inheritance...

Kerala High Court Flags Delay In Enactment Of Anti-Superstition Law, Suggests Setting Up Special Cell As Interim Measure

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (06 January) expressed concern over the prolonged delay by the State government in finalising legislation to curb black magic, witchcraft and other inhuman practices, and suggested the creation of a special cell to address complaints relating to such practices as an interim measure.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar V M was hearing a PIL seeking effective steps to prevent atrocities committed in the name of...

Victim Appeals Against Acquittal Can Be Summarily Dismissed If Victim Has No Prima Facie Arguable Case: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that a victim's appeal against acquittal under Section 413 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita can be summarily dismissed when there is no prima facie material to show that victim has an arguable case.The Division Bench of Dr. Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian observed that the provision for summary dismissal of...

Challenge To Assignment Of Kerala University Land To AKG Centre Must Be Heard As PIL: Kerala High Court

A former employee of the Kerala University moved the High Court on Tuesday (January 7) challenging the assignment of the University's land to AKG Centre for Research and Studies.The plea before the Court was preferred by the former Joint Registrar of the University, and who later on become a member of the syndicate of Kerala University and the Cochin University of Science and...

Arbitrarily Denying Convict Emergency Leave To Attend Brother's Son's Marriage Violates Articles 14 & 15: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that there cannot be any discrimination between the children of the brother and those of the sister of a convict while granting emergency leave to attend their marriage.Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that almost all the Jail Superintendents in the State have been rejecting applications for emergency leaves of convicts to attend their brother's...

Kerala High Court To Hear Defacto Complainant In MLA Rahul Mamkootathil's Plea For Anticipatory Bail In Rape Case

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (January 7) allowed the impleading petition filed by the de facto complainant in the anticipatory bail plea of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the rape and miscarriage case alleged against him.Justice A. Badharudeen allowed the de facto complainant's petition and extended the interim protection granted to Mamkootathil. The case is posted to January 21...