Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up: April 20 to April 26, 2026

Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 208 – 225]Hans Joseph v. Union of India and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 208Neonova Munnar LLP and Anr. v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 209Shajeer v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 210Ratheesh v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 211Sreekumar M.R and Ors. v. Travancore Devaswom Board and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 212State of...

Custodial Torture | Complaints Authority Can Recommend Criminal Case Even Against Retired Officers U/S 110 Kerala Police Act: High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent decision, clarified that Section 110 of the Kerala Police Act grants power to the Police Complaints Authority to recommend registration of criminal cases against even retired police officers for custodial torture.Justice P.M. Manoj was considering a writ petition challenging the order of the District Police Complaints Authority, Alappuzha that dismissed the...

Kerala High Court Permits Vadakkumnatha Temple Advisory Committee To Put Up Advertisement Boards During Thrissur Pooram

The Kerala High Court on Friday (April 24) permitted the Temple Advisory Committee of Sree Vadakkumnatha Temple to install advertisement boards in Vadakkumnathan Kshetra Maidan during Thrissur Pooram.The vacation bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar allowed a Devaswom Board Application filed by the Temple Advisory Committee challenging an order of the Cochin...

DV Act | Magistrate Has Inherent Power To Restore Case Dismissed For Default If Sufficient Cause Shown: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent judgment, held that a magistrate has inherent power to restore a petition under Section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act that was dismissed for default.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar opined:“for ensuring the effective protection under the D.V.Act it is to be held that a Magistrate who has power to dismiss a case for default inherently...

'Land Once Acquired Can't Be Returned Even If Purpose Not Achieved': Kerala High Court Refuses Reconveyance After 37 Years

The Kerala High Court has reiterated that the State cannot be directed to return the land that it acquired from a person even if the purpose of the acquisition became impossible or redundant.It, however, added that the State had a duty to maintain the land properly and put it to use as is legally mandated.The Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha was...

Kerala High Court Upholds Industrial Relations Code Amendment Allowing Continuation Of Existing Tribunals

The Kerala High Court has recently upheld the validity of the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Act, 2026, dismissing a writ petition that challenged the amendment to Section 104(1) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.Justice Gopinath P. delivered the judgment. The Section 104(1) of the Code repealed statutes including, the Trade Unions Act, 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing...

Kerala High Court Seeks Election Commission's Response On Postal Voting For Poll Duty Officials Before Commencement Of Counting

The Kerala High Court on Friday (24 April) directed the counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to obtain instructions on applicability of Rule 27 of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 with regard to postal vote of officials on election duty.The Vacation Bench of Justice P. Krishna Kumar issued the order while considering a batch of petitions which alleged large-scale denial of...

Centre Notifies Appointment Of Adv AK Preeta As Kerala High Court Judge

The Central Government has notified the appointment of Advocate AK Preeta as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court.Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced it in a social media post.Although the Supreme Court Collegium, on April 14, had recommended Senior Advocate Liz Mathew along with Adv AK Preeta for Kerala High Court, the Centre has notified only one...

Cheque Dishonor | Accused Can't Challenge Conviction After Pleading Guilty To Avoid Compensation: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent decision, dismissed a petition filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) seeking to set aside the judgment of conviction in a cheque dishonour case.The petitioner before Justice C.S. Dias had pleaded guilty before the Magistrate, which sentenced him to undergo imprisonment till the rising of the court and to pay a compensation...

Cheque Dishonour | Civil Compromise Decree Doesn't Automatically Bar Section 138 NI Act Prosecution: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently clarified that existence of a compromise decree in a civil suit does not ipso facto render the criminal prosecution under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act non-maintainable.Justice C.S. Dias refused to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against the accused in a cheque dishonour case since only the civil court, and not the criminal court,...

Kerala High Court Issues Notice On PIL Against Mistreatment Of Captive Elephants During Thrissur Pooram, Other Temple Festivals

The Kerala High Court on Friday (April 24) issued notice to the parties in a public interest litigation seeking judicial intervention against the mistreatment of captive elephants during the Thrissur Pooram, which is scheduled to be held on April 26 this year.The vacation bench of Justice A.A. Ziyad Rahman and Justice K.V. Jayakumar admitted the PIL and the government pleader took notice...

Failure To Supply Complaint To Accused, Denial Of Cross-Examination Vitiates POSH Inquiry: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent judgment, held that failure to serve copies of complaint and other relevant documents and denying opportunity for cross-examination to the accused in a workplace sexual harassment complaint violates principles of natural justice.Justice M.B. Snehalatha was considering a writ petition challenging the report of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) that...