Kerala High Court Reserves Verdict On PIL Against Sale Of Arundhati Roy's Book Showing Her Smoking On Cover

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (October 7) reserved its verdict on a PIL challenging Arundhati Roy's book "Mother Mary Comes To Me", the front cover of which shows her smoking a Bidi without any statutory health warning.The Petitioner, an advocate, seeks stay on the book's sale without the statutory label.After hearing the matter for some time, a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar...

'Who Will Be Able To Contest?' Kerala High Court Questions BCI On ₹1.25 Lakh Nomination Fee, Orders Status Quo On State Bar Elections

“Who will be able to contest?" the Kerala High Court orally remarked today while hearing a plea challenging the Bar Council of India's (BCI) decision to hike the nomination fee for State Bar Council elections from ₹5,000 to ₹1,25,000— a 2400% increase.Justice N Nagaresh thus directed BCI to maintain status quo as regards to the issuance of notification for election to the State...

After Kerala High Court Nudge, State Establishes Online Portal For Redressal Of Grievances From Public Hospitals

The Kerala government has informed the High Court that an Online portal has been set up for redressal of grievances from public hospitals.The submission was made before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji, which is dealing with a writ petition seeking safety standards at public medical facilities, following the collapse of Kottayam Medical...

Customary Practice Of Divorce Can Be Proven In Evidence Even If Hearsay, Upon Satisfying Conditions U/S 32 Evidence Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that a customary practice of divorce can be proven in evidence if the same is hearsay, if the statement satisfies the conditions under Sections 32(4) and 48 of the Indian Evidence Act.The Division Bench of Justice Sathish Ninan and P. Krishna Kumar was considering a matrimonial appeal challenging the decision of the Family Court declaring the respondents...

Kerala High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Bigg Boss Malayalam Winner Booked In Alleged Gym Theft Case

The Kerala High Court recently granted pre-arrest bail to bodybuilder and the winner of 'Bigg Boss Malayalam 6' Jinto P.D., booked in an alleged case of theft after trespassing into a gym “Jinto Body Craft”.The prosecution allegation was that the petitioner entered into the establishment run by the de facto complainant and stole ₹10,000/- and certain important documents and...

Separate Property Acquired By Mitakshara Hindu Who Died Before 1956 Completely Devolves Upon Son: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the separate property acquired by a Hindu governed by Mitakshara law, who died before 1956, will completely devolve upon his son.The Division Bench comprising Justice Sathish Ninan and Justice P. Krishna Kumar observed that the Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment ) Act, 1929 did not affect the son's absolute right to inherit his father's property. “It...

No Deficiency In Sree Padmanabhaswamy Idol But Sanctum Roof Requires Urgent Repairs: Chief Thanthri Tells Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has called for the status report on the reconstruction works carried out in Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple after the Chief Thanthri (head priest) submitted a note on the petition concerning defects in Moolavigraha (principal idol) of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.The note, as earlier ordered, was submitted before the division bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran...

Kerala High Court Orders Re-Tender For Collecting Offerings In Sabarimala, Raps Travancore Devaswom Board For 'Casual' Conduct

The Kerala High Court recently passed a judgment partially setting aside the tender notification issued by the Travancore Devaswom Board relating to tenders for three items, including collection of coconuts and flowers offered by pilgrims and devotees in Sabarimala. It further asked the TDB to conduct a re-tender for these.The Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and...

CPI(M) Leaders Personally Appear Before Kerala High Court In Contempt Case Initiated For Blocking Road To Protest Against Central Govt

CPI(M) leaders and former legislative assembly members M.V. Jayarajan, E.P. Jayarajan, and P. Jayarajan along with MLA K.V. Sumesh (respondents 1 to 4) appeared before the Kerala High Court in a contempt case filed for allegedly causing traffic obstruction while organising a party protest in Kargil Yogasala four-lane Highway in Kannur on February 25.The protest, organised by the CPI(M), with...

Lessee In Possession Can't Be Charged With House Trespass Under Section 450 IPC: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has clarified that a lessee in lawful possession of a house cannot be charged with or convicted for house trespass under Section 450 IPC. Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar delivered the judgment in a criminal appeal filed by the accused in an acid attack case while setting aside conviction under 450 (House-trespass in order to commit offence...

'Commuters Can't Be Losers': Kerala High Court Questions Centre's Proposal To Raise Toll On Congested NH-544 Stretch

The Central Government today told the Kerala High Court that it will decide in three days whether to increase tariff at Paliyekkara Toll Plaza, where toll collection currently stands suspended on account of poor road conditions.This comes after the division bench comprising Justice A Muhammed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V Menon took exception to Centre's proposal to increase tariff on...

Kerala High Court Constitutes SIT To Probe Alleged Gold Loss From Sabarimala Dwarapalaka Idols

The Kerala High Court has constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the alleged discrepancies in the weight of gold in the Dwarapalaka idols of Sabarimala temple.The alleged loss of weight of gold came to light during the Court's intervention while considering a suo motu petition initiated on the basis of a report of the Special Commissioner stating that the Gold-cladded...