Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 148 - 161 ]Sheno Sebastian v Smitha Maxon, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 148Adv. Sangeetha Lakshmana v Registrar General and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 149Alavikutty T.K v State of Kerala and ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 150Antony Raju v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 151Deputy Commissioner of Customs v. State of Kerala and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker)...
Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 148 - 161 ]
Sheno Sebastian v Smitha Maxon, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 148
Adv. Sangeetha Lakshmana v Registrar General and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 149
Alavikutty T.K v State of Kerala and ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 150
Antony Raju v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 151
Deputy Commissioner of Customs v. State of Kerala and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 152
Ashique Karoth v Union of India and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 153
Vineesh v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 154
The Director and Ors. v Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 155
M.M. Sanjeev Kumar v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 156
Jaisappan Mathai v State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 157
Abdul Hamid Makame v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 158
Biji Garnet v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 159
State of Kerala v. Anu and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 160
Jijo Joseph v State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 161
Judgments/ Orders This Week
Case Title: Sheno Sebastian v Smitha Maxon
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 148
The Kerala High Court has held that an indefinite undertaking by a co-owner agreeing to accept “whatever amount” another party may pay on a future sale of property cannot bar a statutory right to seek partition.
The Division Bench of Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar delivered the judgment in a regular first appeal, affirming a preliminary decree for partition passed by the Principal Sub Court, Palakkad.
Kerala High Court Upholds Non-Maintainability Of Writ Petitions In Bar Association Election Disputes
Case Title: Adv. Sangeetha Lakshmana v Registrar General and Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 149
The Kerala High Court on Monday (16 March) reaffirmed that disputes concerning elections to Bar Associations are matters of internal administration and cannot be challenged through writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar was delivering the judgment in an appeal against dismissal of a writ petition which challenged the 2026 Executive Committee Election to the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA)].
Case Title: Alavikutty T.K v State of Kerala and ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 150
The Kerala High Court has held that government officers exempted from personal appearance for document registration under Section 88 of the Registration Act, 1908 retain that exemption even when the document is registered in another State.
Justice P.V Balakrishnan delivered the judgment in a writ petition, where the Court examined whether a registering authority in one State can insist on the personal appearance of an executing officer of another State, despite an exemption granted under Section 88 of the Registration Act.
Kerala High Court Refuses To Suspend Ex-MLA Antony Raju's Conviction In Evidence Tampering Case
Case Title: Antony Raju v. State of Kerala
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 151
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (17 March) dismissed the plea preferred by former MLA Antony Raju seeking to set aside the order of the District and Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram that rejected his application to suspend his conviction in the Evidence Tampering case.
Justice C. Jayachandran delivered the judgment.
Case Title: Deputy Commissioner of Customs v. State of Kerala and Anr.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 152
The Kerala High Court recently passed an order whereby it directed the Deputy Commissioner of Customs to furnish the duty register of customs officers on duty at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) to facilitate investigation into a crime relating to smuggling of methamphetamine from Muscat to India.
Justice C.S. Dias observed that in heinous offences under the NDPS Act, cooperation of State and its instrumentalities was necessary.
Kerala High Court Rejects PIL Challenging Use Of 'Indian Premier League' Name For IPL
Case Title: Ashique Karoth v Union of India and Anr.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 153
The Kerala High Court has refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) questioning the legality of name “Indian Premier League” used by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for conducting IPL.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M disposed of the petition noting that there is no merit in the argument by the petitioner.
Case Title: Vineesh v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 154
The Kerala High Court recently clarified that a person can be prosecuted for illegal removal or transportation of river sand as per the Kerala Protection of River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001 in addition to the offence of theft under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath remarked that his earlier decision in Mohammed Noufal v. State of Kerala was rendered without noticing the relevant provisions under the Sand Act and the General Clauses Act as well as the precedents rendered by the Apex Court and the Division Bench of the High Court.
Case Title: The Director and Ors. v Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 155
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (18 March) disposed of the appeal preferred by the Enforcement Directorate against a Single judge's interim order staying the show cause notice issued against Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), relating to the utilisation of funds raised through masala bond.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar disposed of the appeal noting that the interim order challenged had since expired.
Case Title: M.M. Sanjeev Kumar v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 156
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (19 March) disposed of a public interest litigation challenging the naming contest announced by Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation (BEVCO) and Malabar Distilleries Ltd. inviting the public to suggest a name and logo for a proposed premium brandy product.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M disposed of the petition upon noting that the respondents have withdrawn the contest.
Case Title: Jaisappan Mathai v State of Kerala and Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 157
The Kerala High Court has directed the State government to revisit its compensation framework for families affected by the 2020 floods.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M issued the directions while disposing of a writ petition seeking disbursal of balance amount to the remaining 3,232 families of Kuttanadu area in Alappuzha district.
Case Title: Abdul Hamid Makame v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 158
The Kerala High Court recently held that when the accused is a foreign national, it is not necessary to communicate the grounds of his arrest to his relatives if the accused has been duly informed along with the Foreign Regional Registration Officer or his embassy or consulate.
Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath was considering a bail application preferred by a Tanzanian national residing in India and arrayed as accused no. 5 in a crime registered by the Kunnamkulam Police for the offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).
Case Title: Biji Garnet v. State of Kerala
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 159
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a plea filed by an accused seeking to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against him for allegedly posting provocative statements on Facebook, compelling people to violate the restrictions imposed by the government during Covid-19 pandemic.
Justice G. Girish delivered the judgement.
Kerala High Court Cancels Bail Granted To 8 Accused In Walayar Mob Lynching Case
Case Title: State of Kerala v. Anu and Ors.
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 160
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (March 19) cancelled the bail awarded to all the accused in the Walayar mob lynching case in which Ram Narayan Bhagel, a native from Jharkhand belonging to a scheduled caste community, was brutally attacked and killed by 8 men on December 17, 2025.
Justice A. Badharudeen allowed the State's appeal to cancel bail after hearing the accused, the State and the brother of the deceased.
Case Title: Jijo Joseph v State of Kerala
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 161
The Kerala High Court has recently (18 March) disposed of a public interest litigation concerning the Angamaly–Sabari railway line, as the Ministry of Railways has submitted that the project has been defreezed.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. disposed of the petition following the submission that the project has been defreezed following a meeting held on 18 February, 2026.
Other Important Developments This Week
Kerala High Court Allows Extraction, Preservation Of Brain-Dead Man's Gametes At Wife's Request
Case Title: XXX v Union of India and Ors.
Case No: WP(C) 9271/ 2026
The Kerala High Court has recently granted interim permission to extract and cryopreserve the gametes of a man declared brain-dead, following a petition filed by his wife seeking to preserve the possibility of having a biological child in the future.
Justice M.B Snehalatha passed the interim order to allow the extraction and cryopreservation of the gametes of the petitioner's husband, by availing the services of a recognised Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinic.
Case Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case
Case No: WP(C) 42844/ 2025 and WP(C) 48551/ 2025
The Kerala High Court on Monday (March 16) remarked that it would pass orders to attach the Treasury accounts of the State government in case the amounts due to the Victim Compensation Fund and the fees to the mediators are not paid within a week.
Division bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was hearing two pleas, including a suo motu petition concerning the infrastructural requirements of mediation centres, adequate support staff and regular office stationary.
Case Title: Santon Lama v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Case No: WP (Crl.) No. 1421/2025
The Kerala High Court on Monday (16 March) allowed an application to amend the habeas corpus petition filed in connection with Suraj Lama, an Indian citizen who was deported from Kuwait but went missing after arriving at Kochi.
As per the application moved by Lama's son, State negligence led to Lama's death and it must now pay compensation for violation of his fundamental rights.
The Division Bench comprising Dr. Justice A. K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian allowed the application for amendment of the petition and directed the respondents to file counter affidavits.
Case Title: Kerala Private Hospital Association v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Case No: WP(C) No. 8176 of 2026
The Kerala High Court on Friday (March 13) suggested mediation at the High Court Mediation Centre to resolve the issues between private hospital management and the nurses association regarding wages, service conditions, etc.
Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. directed the Kerala Private Hospital Association, the Kerala United Nurses Association, Kerala Private Medical College Management Association, and other parties in the plea to appear for mediation before the Mediator, Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre, High Court of Kerala at 11.00 a.m. on 17.03.2026, without any further notice.
Case Title: State of Kerala v. Kandararu Rajeevaru @ Rajeev T
Case No: Crl. MC 2455/ 2026
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (17 March) stayed the observations made by the Special Court against the investigation of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Sabarimala Gold Theft case.
Justice A. Badharudeen issued the order in the plea moved by the State seeking to cancel the bail granted to Kandararu Rajeevaru @ Rajeev Thantri, who is arrayed as an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case.
Case Title : Baiju Paul Mathews v State of Kerala and connected case
Case No : WP(C) 7858/ 2025 and connected case
The Kerala Chief Secretary has submitted a report before the High Court, detailing the road map put in place by the State for dealing with human-wildlife conflict in Aralam and Wayanad areas.
The report was submitted before a Division Bench comprising Dr. Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian hearing a batch of writ petitions concerning the issue. The judges had earlier sought for a comprehensive report in the matter.
Vellapally Natesan Files Appeal Before Kerala High Court Against Removal As SNDP General Secretary
Case Title: V.K Natesan and Anr. v Dr. K Reghu Anchayil and Ors.
Case No: WA 693/ 2026
Vellapally Natesan has approached the Kerala High Court in an appeal challenging the Single Judge judgment ordering his removal as the General Secretary of the Aruvipuram Sree Narayana Dharma Paripala Yogan (SNDP Yogam).
Case Title: Mohamed Ismayil C.V v Union of India and Anr.
Case No: WP(C) 8823/ 2026
The Kerala High Court has recently allowed a member of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Malappuram to continue in the post beyond his original tenure, till fresh recruitment is made after appointment rules are suitably amended.
Justice N. Nagaresh issued the interim order and directed the respondents to file a counter affidavit within three weeks.
Kerala High Court Brings Regulations To Curb Sexual Harassment Of Women At High Court
The Chief Justice of Kerala High Court has notified the Gender Sensitisation & Sexual Harassment of Women at the High Court of Kerala (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Regulations, 2026.
Case Title: V.K. Natesan and Ors. v. Dr. K. Reghu Anchayil and connected cases
Case No: WA 693/ 2026 and connected cases
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (March 19) ordered that status quo be maintained with respect to the nomination of directors for the Aruvipuram Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam).
The interim order was passed by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. while considering a batch of appeals preferred against the judgment of the Single Judge by which certain directors of the SNDP Yogam, including former General Secretary Vellappally Natesan, were disqualified.
Case Title: Yohan George v. Union of India
Case No: WP(C) 11010/2026
Another plea has been moved before the Kerala High Court challenging the certification of the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond and seeking removal of 'Kerala' from the movie title.
The plea also alleges that the producer of the film committed offences punishable under Sections 196 [Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony], 197 [Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration] and 299 [Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and that the contents of the film are prejudicial to public harmony.
Case Title: Shaji J. Kodankandath v. State of Kerala and Ors.
Case No: WP(PIL) No. 37/2026
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (March 19) issued notice to Malayalam daily Deepika for publishing a misleading report while hearing a public interest litigation filed by lawyer and Congress politician Shaji J. Kodankandath.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. also directed the editor to give an explanation for reporting that the Court directed to conduct an enquiry regarding the purchase of digital survey equipment when, in fact, no such order was passed.