'Taking Court's Directions For A Ride': Kerala High Court Warns Of Summoning Law, Cabinet Secretaries Over Delay In Anti-Ragging Bill
The Kerala High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the State Government's continued delay in finalising and placing the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025 before the Cabinet, observing that the matter has remained pending for more than a year despite repeated judicial directions.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran...
The Kerala High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the State Government's continued delay in finalising and placing the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025 before the Cabinet, observing that the matter has remained pending for more than a year despite repeated judicial directions.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran was considering a public interest litigation moved by KeLSA (Kerala State Legal Services Authority), seeking stronger laws to combat the menace of ragging within educational institutions.
During the previous hearing, the Court had granted time for tabling the draft bill, when it was submitted that the newly formed government needed time to consider the Bill.
Today, when the matter was taken up, the Senior Government Pleader submitted that three more months are required to finalise the draft since a comprehensive enactment is planned.
At this point the Court questioned the need for more time when the final draft of the Bill is already completed.
“Have you seen what all efforts we have taken so far. You are submitting as if you are starting from the scratch...having reached till final draft.. Which is pending to be kept before the cabinet.. Now, you want a new enactment…. We will direct the appearance of the person concerned. This is not the way you are expected to respond. Taking the directions of the courts for a ride,” the Court orally remarked.
The Government Pleader then submitted that the Bill was announced in the budget of the State. However, the Court did not find the submission satisfactory. “This matter has been pending for long..” it said.
The Court noted that the Senior Government Pleader was unable to inform the Bench about the present status of the draft Bill. The Court observed that it appeared the proposed legislation had still not been placed before the Cabinet, despite specific directions issued earlier.
The Bench recalled that, owing to the urgency of the issue and the announcement of elections, a representation was made before the Election Commission of India seeking permission to convene a Cabinet meeting for approval of the draft Bill. Pursuant to that request, the Election Commission, through a communication dated 9 April 2026 addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, granted approval for calling a Cabinet meeting to consider the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Despite the subsequent formation of a new government, the High Court observed that it had granted the State additional time and had, on 10 June 2026, adjourned the matter by three weeks to enable the Government to complete the process of finalising the proposed legislation.
The Court eventually adjourned the matter by four weeks, while adding that if satisfactory progress is not demonstrated by the next hearing, it would be compelled to direct the Law Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary to appear before it.
Case Title: Kerala State Legal Service Authority v. Government of Kerala and Others
Case No: WP(C) No. 8600 of 2025