Employee Cannot Invoke Consumer Forum For Gratuity Claims Against Employer: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that an employee claiming gratuity from an employer cannot be treated as a "consumer" under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and, therefore, consumer commissions lack jurisdiction to entertain such disputes.Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A delivered the judgment in a petition seeking to quash an order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Malappuram, which had directed the bank to pay the balance gratuity on a complaint by the respondent employee. A...

Kerala High Court Suggests Parliament To Amend Divorce Act To Enable Christian Women File Cases At Place Of Residence

The Kerala High Court in a recent decision noted that there is no provision in the Divorce Act, 1869 that enables a wife to prefer petitions in the court having jurisdiction in her place of residence. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 358]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that such a provision exists in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 as well as the Special Marriage Act, 1954 and there is no justifiable...

Kerala High Court Directs Home Secretary To Decide Plea Seeking Vigilance Probe Against Top Officials Over Bodybuilders' Police Appointments

The Kerala High Court on Friday (July 3) directed the Home Department Secretary to consider a representation seeking a vigilance enquiry against top officials including, State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar IPS, S. Sreejith IPS, Biswanath Sinha IAS and P. Sasi. The representation was made alleging that the afore persons wereas involved in the alleged illegal appointments of bodybuilders Shinu Chova and Chitharesh Natesan as inspectors in the police department.Today, Justice A....

Kerala High Court Closes PIL For CBI Inquiry Into 'Attack' On ED Officials After Search At Ex-CM's Home, Cites Satisfactory Progress In Probe

The Kerala High Court on Friday (03 July) disposed of the PIL seeking CBI enquiry into the alleged "attack" on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials following the agency's search operation at the residence of former CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter on May 27. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 357]The Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar disposed of the petition after taking note of a report by the State observing that "there is satisfactory progress in the investigation". During the...

Another PIL Moved Before Kerala High Court Challenging State Waqf Board Constitution, Inclusion Of Former MLA In Reserved Seat

Another public interest litigation has been moved before the Kerala High Court challenging the constitution of the State Waqf Board. The inclusion of CPI(M) politician and former MLA Kunhammed Kutty Master in the Board is also highlighted in the plea.Earlier, PILs were moved by BJP leader Shone George and a Christian trust named Assembly of Christians Trust Services (ACTS). The present PIL is moved by Stalin V.M., who is a retired Junior Warrant Officer from the Indian Air Force. According to...

Kerala High Court Receives Gold Award From Union Govt For Innovation In E-Governance

The Kerala High Court has received the Gold Award in the National Awards for e-Governance, which aims to recognise and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives.The Award is for the District Court Case Management System (DCMS) developed. It is one of the seven categories for which awards are granted.DCMS is awarded Gold in the second category which is for Innovation by Use of AI and Other New Age Technologies for Providing Citizen-centric services (State & State PSUs)....

Kerala High Court Seeks State's Response In Expelled Congress Leader's Plea Alleging Threats From Chief Minister VD Satheesan

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (July 2) granted two weeks' time to the State to file its statement in the police protection plea filed by expelled Congress leader Simi Bell Rose John, accusing Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his brother, V.D. Ajayakumar of threatening her.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas has posted the case to July 16 (Thursday) granting time to the State, the SHO of Thevara Police Station and the Commissioner of Kochi city to file statement.Simi has sought a direction to the...

Compliance With S.50 NDPS Act Mandatory Even If Accused Himself Produces Contraband From Pocket During Body Search: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that the compliance with Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is mandatory even when the accused himself produces contraband from his pocket, during body search.For context, Section 50 of the NDPS Act deals with Conditions under which search of persons shall be conducted.According to the Section, when a duly...

Kerala High Court Refuses To Extend Transit Anticipatory Bail Granted To Viral Kumb Mela Star's Husband In POCSO Case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (July 2) dismissed an application filed by Mohammed Farmaan, the husband of viral Kumb Mela star, seeking an extension of time in the 1-month transit anticipatory bail granted to him in a POCSO case registered at Madhya Pradesh.A detailed order is awaited.The application was filed following the rejection of Farmaan's bail plea by the jurisdictional POCSO...

Special Court Under PMLA Is Legally Competent To Try Scheduled Offence After Committal: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has reaffirmed that a Special Court constituted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) is legally competent to try a scheduled offence once the case is committed to it under Section 44(1)(c) of the Act, even if that court is not independently notified to try the particular offence. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 354]Justice A. Badharudeen delivered the judgment in...

Kerala High Court Strikes Down 20-Page Cap On Free RTI Information For Below Poverty Line Applicants As Ultra Vires RTI Act

The Kerala High Court has struck down proviso to Rule 4(4) of the Kerala Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2006, which restrict free supply of information under RTI Act to persons below the poverty line (BPL) to twenty pages. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 355]Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. found that the proviso to the afore Rule, requiring payment for information above 20...

Cashew Corp Scam: Kerala High Court Grants State Time To Produce Sanction Order To Prosecute Corrupt Ex-Officials

The Kerala High Court was today (July 2) informed by the Advocate General representing the State that sanction order has been decided to be passed in accordance with the Court's direction to prosecute the alleged corrupt ex-officers of the State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC).Justice A. Badharudeen today recorded the submission of AG Jaju Babu that government has decided to give...