Consider Substantial Increase In Entry Fee To Eco-Tourism Centres To Reduce Number Of Visitors: Kerala High Court To Govt

The Kerala High Court has asked the State government to consider making a "substantial increase" in the entry fee to eco-tourism areas.The development comes after the Additional Advocate General for the State informed the High Court that its earlier order of closing down eco-tourism centers in Wayand is causing great prejudice.The High Court had ordered temporary closure of the eco-tourism...

Kerala High Court Directs Probe Against Former DGP For Allegedly Disclosing Identity Of Sooryanelli Rape Victim In His Book 'Nirbhayam'

The Kerala High Court has directed the Station House Officer, Mannanthala Police Station to review the complaint lodged by the petitioner against former DGP and author Siby Mathews alleging the commission of an offence under Section 228 A of IPC. The Court directed the SHO to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether Siby Mathews has disclosed the details of the identity of...

Accused 'Exploited Vulnerability': Kerala High Court Sentences Four To 30 Yrs Rigorous Imprisonment For Gang Rape Of Migrant Woman

The Kerala High Court has convicted four accused to rigorous imprisonment of 30 years under Section 376D of the IPC for committing the offence of gang rape on a migrant woman worker in 2015. The Division Bench comprising Justice A.K.Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. relying upon the Apex Court decision in Patan Jamal Vali v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2021), considered...

Husband Acquitted From Offence Of Dowry Death U/S 304B IPC Can Be Held Guilty Of Marital Cruelty U/S 498A Depending On Facts: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court has held that just because a person was charged and acquitted under Section 304B of Indian Penal Code for dowry death does not mean that he cannot be convicted under Section 498-A of the Act for marital cruelty.The judgment was made by Justice Johnson John while deciding a Criminal Appeal against the decision of Sessions Judge where he found the appellant guilty of...

[S.216 CrPC] Alteration Of Charge Is A Vested Right Of Court, Within Its Domain And Not That Of The Parties: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court reiterated that the power of alteration of charges under Section 216 of the CrPC is the vested power of the Court, and could be exercised at any time before judgment is pronounced.The Court stated that parties have no such vested right, but they can move an application seeking alteration of charges which the Court will decide. Justice A. Badharudeen observed thus:...

Kerala High Court Directs Govt To Build E-Toilets For Flood-Affected Tribal Families In Nilambur

The Kerala High Court has directed the state authorities to build an appropriate number of e-toilets for around 300 families living in the area. A report in this regard shall also be filed before the Court.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A. J. Desai and Justice V. G. Arun passed this order in a plea filed by Aryadan Shouketh, former Chairperson of Nilambur Municipality and a...

Kerala High Court Forms Expert Committee To Curb Pollution In Periyar River

The Kerala High Court has formed an Expert Committee to submit a report containing suggestions and actions to be taken to curb pollution in the Periyar River.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice A J Desai and Justice V G Arun directed thus: “The committee shall consist of the Secretary, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Kerala, the Regional Director,...

Kerala High Court Declines Minor Girl's Plea Seeking Pilgrimage To Sabarimala Temple Due To Issues Pending Before SC's Larger Bench In Review Petition

The Kerala High Court today dismissed the writ petition of a 10-year-old minor girl who invoked its writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a declaration that she was entitled to have a pilgrimage to Sabarimala Temple during the Mandala Pooja/Makaravilakku season of 1199 ME(2023-24) without insisting on upper age qualification.The writ petition was filed...

Kerala High Court Temporarily Stays Collector's Order Reducing Area Allotted To Trivandrum Government Law College

The Kerala High Court has temporarily stayed an order by the Trivandrum Collector directing the reconstruction of the outer wall of Trivandrum Government Law College after leaving 2 meters of space for road widening.A petition challenging the same was filed by Advocate G. Muralidharan who is the Vice President of the Parent Teachers' Association of the College and also a former student and...

Safety Of Pedestrians Paramount: Kerala High Court Directs Ernakulam District Collector To Submit Report On 'Operation Footpath'

The Kerala High Court has directed the Ernakulam District Collector to submit a report on steps taken for footpath safety. This comes after the court took suo moto notice of the incident where a woman's leg got stuck between the slabs of footpath in Kochi. She did not sustain any injury.Single bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran observed that taking steps for footpath safety was important...

Regulatory Authorities Can't Misinterpret Judgments Erroneously To Deny Registration To Permanent Employees: Kerala High Court

A single judge bench of the Kerala High Court comprising of Justice Murali Purushothaman, while deciding Writ Petitions in the case of Jomon Sebastian & Ors vs. Assistant Labour Officer & Ors, held that regulatory bodies cannot misinterpret judgments to wrongfully deny registration to the permanent employees. Background Facts The petitioners are headload workers employed...

Consider Objections To Ban On 'Dangerous & Ferocious' Dog Breeds: Kerala High Court To Ministry Of Animal Husbandry

The Kerala High Court has directed the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry to consider the objections submitted by stakeholders while considering a writ petition challenging the circular dated March 12, 2024, issued by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, which bans the rearing of around 23 breeds of dogs on the ground of them being ferocious...