Insurer Cannot Deny Compensation For Accident Involving Commercial Vehicle Merely Because It Didn't Occur In 'Public Place': Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court has recently held that an insurance company is liable to pay compensation when the accident is caused by a commercial vehicle, irrespective of whether the accident occurred in a public or private place.Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen was considering a motor accident claims appeal preferred by an owner cum driver of a JCB challenging the order of the tribunal, which had...

'Cabinet Can't Sit In Appeal Over HC': Kerala High Court Pulls Up LSGD Special Secretary In Contempt Plea By Disabled Librarian

The Kerala High Court on Monday (September 22) pulled up the Special Secretary to the Local Self Government Department (2nd respondent), while considering a contempt plea filed over non-compliance of an interim direction asking the Secretary to re-instate the petitioner, a person with disability, to the post of part-time librarian in Kaipamangalam Grama Panchayat.The writ petitioner, Bindu...

Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Youth Accused Of Intimidating Minor Despite 21 Prior Cases, Notes Probe Is Complete

The Kerala High Court has granted bail to a man accused of offences under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and ST/ ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 despite his being involved in 21 other criminal offences. As per prosecution, the Petitioner-accused repeatedly followed the 15 year old victim, contacted her through instagram, and later threatened her with a knife...

Kerala High Court Flags Hygiene Issues, Lack Of Maintenance In Chottanikkara Temple

The Kerala High Court recently suo motu impleaded Executive Director (Suchitwa Mission), Executive Engineer of Maramath Wing, Cochin Devaswom Board and Assistant Engineer, Chottanikkara Devaswom as additional respondents in a petition concerning lapses in cleanliness and maintenance in Chottanikkara Temple.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar...

Kerala High Court Asks Litigant Alleging Corruption In Lotteries Dept To 'Follow Up' Remedy Under RTI Act

A PIL was moved before the Kerala High Court alleging large-scale corruption and lack of transparency in the State Lotteries Department. The PIL was preferred by Babu K.M., a retired government official and mandalam president (Vytilla) of Indian National Congress.The petitioner had, in 2024, sought various information for the financial year 2023-24 from Public Information Officer of...

NH-544: Kerala High Court Defers Order On Restoring Paliyekkara Toll Over Reports Of Service Road Collapse

The Kerala High Court has refused to pass orders lifting suspension of toll collection at Paliyekkara Toll Plaza (Thrissur district) on NH 544, citing collapse of a service road at Muringoor.The Division bench comprising Justice A Muhammed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V Menon were hearing writ petitions concerning severe traffic congestion in the Mannuthy–Edappally stretch of NH...

Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up: September 15 - September 21, 2025

Nominal Index [Citations: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 565 - 587]Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 565Shaji @ Shaiju v. State of Kerala, 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 566Dr. A Neelalohithadasan Nadar v State of Kerala, 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 567Sunilkumar v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 568XXX v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 569Suo Motu v State of Kerala and...

Refusal Of Sanction Without Considering Prosecution Material, Merely Praising Accused's Work Not Valid: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that a sanction order denying prosecution of public servant is not valid if the same was made without reference to the prosecution materials and merely depicts appraisal of the accused's contributions. Such an order cannot be termed to be one made with application of mind, it added.Justice A. Badharudeen remarked that though sanction order is a...

University's Wisdom To Prescribe Minimum Standards Of Education Cannot Be Questioned In Writ Petition: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that a University's decision to prescribe minimum standards to increase the quality of education in the colleges cannot be questioned in a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.Justice N. Nagaresh was considering a writ petition preferred by a college under the Kerala University of Health Sciences. The college had intended to...

Kerala High Court Issues SOP For Paperless Operation Of 'Model Digital Family Court' In Sasthamkotta

The Kerala High Court has issued an office memorandum notifying an SOP consolidating the procedures for filing, case handling, viewing, production and retention of documents, service of processes, transfer of cases, and payment workflows governing Model Digital Family Court, Sasthamkotta.The SOP has been prepared by the IT Directorate of the High Court for implementation of a Model Digital...

Kerala High Court Proposes Minimum 45 Yrs Age, 10 Yrs Practice For Designation As Senior Advocate, Invites Suggestions From Bar

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 19) issued a notice containing the draft High Court of Kerala (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025 as per which one of the conditions for eligibility is that advocate should be 45 years of age. It has invited suggestions/objections on the same, which has to be submitted in writing to the Registrar General, High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam...

SC/ST Act | No Bar On Granting Pre-Arrest Bail If Substantive Offence Not Found To Be Committed: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that the bar against grant of anticipatory bail would not apply in cases where an offence under Section 3(2)(v) of SC/ST is alleged if there is a prima facie conclusion that the substantive offence punishable by 10 years' imprisonment has not been committed.Justice Gopinath P. observed: “In other words, in cases where the allegation is that an...