Kerala High Court
Challenge To Vested Forest Notification Filed After 14 Years Barred By Limitation: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held that a challenge to a vesting notification under the Kerala Private Forests (Vesting and Assignment) Act, 1971, filed 14 years after publication, was barred by limitation.The Division Bench of Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P Krishna Kumar delivered the judgment in a batch of appeals arising from proceedings before the Forest Tribunal relating to...
High Court Can Quash Gratuity Orders Passed Without Jurisdiction Even If Employer Did Not Object To Claim: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court recently held that high courts can exercise power under Article 226 of the Constitution to set aside the order passed by the Controlling Authority granting gratuity without jurisdiction, even if the claim for gratuity was not objected to by the employer.Justice Gopinath P. was considering a writ petition preferred by Kosamattam Finance Ltd. seeking to set aside the...
S.482 BNSS | Pre-Arrest Bail Not Maintainable After Arrest, Even If Accused Released On Transit Bail: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court recently held that an accused arrested and released on transit bail cannot prefer an anticipatory bail plea, and he is only allowed to prefer a regular bail application before the jurisdiction court.Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath dismissed a pre-arrest bail application of a Kashmiri man, who is arrayed as an accused in a crime registered by the Cyber Crime Police...
Suraj Lama Case: Kerala High Court Modifies Order, Directs DIG-Rank Officer To Head SIT
The Kerala High Court on Monday (16 February) modified its interim order directing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to continue its investigation to document the sequence of events from the time of Suraj Lama's arrival in India until his death.In the interim order dated 11 February, the Court had directed the SIT to be headed by the Commissioner of Police or an officer of equivalent...
Identity Of Petitioner Must Be Verified Through SHO In Bank Account Defreezing Cases: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court on Friday (13 February) ordered that no writ petition or similar plea seeking defreezing of bank accounts shall be entertained unless the Station House Officer (SHO) concerned is made a party respondent.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M, passed the order in a suo motu Judicial Practice and Procedure proceeding initiated by...
Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up : February 09 - February 15, 2026
Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 82 - 99]Sanil Narayanan Nampoothiri v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 82Havildar B. Manikuttan v. Union of India and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 83Venkatraman Bhat and Ors v Anantha Bhat and Ors. and connected matter, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 84Velayudhan v. State of Kerala and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 85State of Kerala and Ors. v...
SC/ST Act | Special Court Considering Protest Complaint Must Verify Police Refer Report, Pass Reasoned Order: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has clarified that a Special Court considering a protest complaint alleging offences under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act must pass a reasoned order after verifying the refer report filed by the Investigating Officer so as to either accept or reject the same.Justice A. Badharudeen was considering an appeal challenging the...
Motor Accident | Car Owner Can Lead Independent Evidence On Issue Of Negligence Despite Driver's Plea Of Guilt: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court recently clarified that the owner of a vehicle involved in a motor accident can adduce independent evidence on the issue of negligence, even if the driver pleaded guilty in the criminal proceedings.Justice Mohammed Nias C.P. was considering a plea seeking to set aside the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal's order wherein it dismissed a vehicle owner's interim application...
Kerala High Court Upholds Conviction Of Deceased Public Servant For Corruption, Orders Recovery Of Fine From His Legal Heirs
The Kerala High Court, in a recent ruling, upheld the conviction of two for their involvement in a corruption case relating to the Kulasekharapuram Irrigation Project.Justice A. Badharudeen dismissed the appeal filed by one of the accused whereas modified the sentence passed against the other accused since he was no more.The prosecution case is that the Superintending Engineer hatched a...
“Transfer Order In Contemplation Of Disciplinary Proceedings Cannot Be Disguised As Punishment”: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held that a transfer order in contemplation of a disciplinary proceedings must be justified and cannot be operated as a disguised punishment.Justice N Nagaresh, was delivering a judgment which set aside the transfer of a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) employee to Kasaragod over an article in a union house journal discussing the Corporation's...
Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala High Court Dismisses Smart Creations CEO Pankaj Bhandari's Plea Challenging Arrest As Illegal
The Kerala High Court on Friday (February 13) dismissed the plea preferred by Pankaj Bhandari, CEO of Smart Creations, Chennai, alleging that his arrest as part of the Sabarimala gold theft case was illegal. Justice A. Badharudeen pronounced the order rejecting the plea.The prosecution allegation is that Bhandari along with the other accused in the case, including prime accused...
Kerala High Court Stays BEVCO's Liquor Naming Contest, Flags Concern Over Use Of Public Exchequer
The Kerala High Court on Thursday (February 12) ordered an interim stay on the contest announced by BEVCO [Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation] and Malabar Distilleries Ltd. inviting suggestions from the public to give a name and logo for a proposed premium brandy product.Division bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering two...