Kerala High Court Closes Complainant's Plea Challenging Police's Notice Of Appearance In Sexual Harassment Case Against Rapper Vedan

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 23) closed a petition filed by de-facto complainant challenging a notice directing to appear before Ernakulam Central Police for recording her statement in a case filed against Rapper Vedan. Justice C Pradeep Kumar, closed the petition, when it was informed by the public prosecutor that the Station house Officer (SHO) withdrew the impugned...

Kerala High Court Asks Suchitwa Mission To Assist In Tackling Hygiene, Maintenance Issues At Chottanikkara Temple

The Kerala High Court has asked the State government regarding the steps that can be taken by Suchitwa Mission, a technical arm of government which empowers local bodies with technical support for waste management, sanitation, and green initiatives, to provide assistance to Chottanikkara Temple.The division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar observed,...

Executive Magistrates Cannot Invoke S.130 BNSS In Purely Private Disputes: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that Executive Magistrates cannot invoke Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in matters arising from purely private disputes, such as allegations of cheating or breach of trust, unless there is a demonstrable threat to public peace or tranquillity.Justice V G Arun delivered the judgment in a petition filed challenging the order and...

'School Teacher Can Enforce Discipline, Correct Pupil': Kerala High Court Quashes Case Against Teacher For Caning Student

In a recent judgment, the Kerala High Court quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against a school teacher for beating his students with a cane.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar referred to various precedents, which discussed the extent of corporal punishment that can be inflicted on a child by a teacher. It was observed: “From the above decisions it is clear that the school teacher, in view...

Kerala High Court Seeks State's Reply In Rapper Vedan's Plea To Modify Bail Conditions In Sexual Harassment Case For Performing Shows Abroad

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 23) sought the State's stand on a plea by Rapper Vedan seeking to modify two conditions imposed by the Sessions Court while granting him pre-arrest bail in a sexual harassment case.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar, granted time to the prosecutor to get instructions and posted the matter to next week.The prosecution has alleged that in December 2022,...

[S.351 BNSS] Accused Exempted From Personal Appearance Can Answer Questions Virtually Or In Writing: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that an accused person exempted from personal appearance may answer questions under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). either through a written statement or via video linkage.Justice C S Dias, delivered the judgment and set aside a trial court order that had rejected the accused's plea to allow his counsel to respond on his...

Actress Lakshmi Menon Moves Kerala High Court For Quashing Abduction Case

Actress Lakshmi Menon has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the criminal case initiated in alleged abduction and assault case.Earlier, the High Court had granted anticipatory bail to the actress and other accused persons in the crime after noting that the matter had been settled between the parties. The de facto complainant had stated the complaint was filed based on...

No Essential Religious Practice That Temple Priest Must Be From Particular Caste Or Lineage : Kerala High Court Approves 'Thanthra Vidyalayas'

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (October 22) dismissed a writ petition filed by Akhila Kerala Thanthri Samajam (AKTS) challenging the accreditation and recognition granted to certain institutions described as 'Thanthra Vidyalayas' by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board (KDRB).The petitioners also challenged the notifications issued by KDRB...

O.XI R.14 CPC | Co-operative Arbitration Court Can Order Any Party To Produce Documents In Its Possession: Kerala High Court

In a recent judgment, the Kerala High Court has observed that the Co-Operative Arbitration Court conducting a trial in an election petition has the power to invoke provision under Order XI Rule 14 of the Code of Civil Procedure to order any party to produce documents in his possession as it deems necessary.Referring to Section 70(3) of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969, Justice K....

Remedy For Non-Payment Of Revised Maintenance Is Execution Of Order Before Magistrate, Not Contempt Proceedings: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently clarified that the appropriate remedy for non-payment of maintenance ordered as per criminal revision petition before the High Court is to execute the order before the Magistrate court. It also observed that contempt proceedings before the High Court would not be maintainable in such circumstances.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar dismissed a contempt case initiated...

Power Granted Under Street Vendor's Act Overrides Municipality Act Even If Vendor Is Operating Without License: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has clarified that the power granted under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 overrides the powers under Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, even when the street vendor is operating without a license.Justice Mohammed Nias C P held that any municipal action against a street vendor, even one operating without a license,...

'We Need Socially Conscious Advocates': Kerala High Court Asks Lawyer Who Filed Noise Pollution PIL If He Will Join Legal Aid Programme

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (21 October) has asked a PIL litigant, who is also an advocate, if he is willing to contribute in the State's legal aid programme.The division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Syam Kumar V M were considering a public interest litigation seeking urgent judicial intervention to curb increasing levels of noise pollution.“We actually...