Kerala High Court Closes Contempt Case Against News Channel Directors For Airing Scandalous Remarks On Judges, Accepts Their Apology

The Kerala High Court recently closed the suo-motu criminal contempt proceedings against Managing Director and Director of Malayalam web-news channel Karma News for publishing scandalous remarks against judges, after the duo tendered an unconditional apology. Accepting the unconditional apology made by the directors, the Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V....

S.482 BNSS | Anticipatory Bail Applications Maintainable Before HC Even If Parties Did Not Approach Sessions Court First: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently clarified that anticipatory bail applications can be entertained by the High Courts and there is no need for parties to first approach the Sessions Court in light of the precedents in the case.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas made the observation while considering an anticipatory bail plea preferred by an IT-firm owner in an alleged case of rape and sexual...

Investigating Officer Not 'Suitable Person' Under Navy Regulations To Prosecute Trial Before Court-Martial: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that an investigating officer is not a 'suitable person' as per Regulation 163 of the Navy (Discipline and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations, 1965, to prosecute a trial before the Court-Martial.Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath considered the constitutional validity of Regulation 178(3) of the Navy Regulations, which permits the prosecutor to be a...

Kerala High Court Seeks Records On Removal Of Gold Coverings From Sabarimala Idols, Says Temple Must Safeguard Deity's Property

The Kerala High Court on Friday took strong exception to the removal of gold-plated copper coverings from the “Dwarapalaka” idols at Sabarimala without prior intimation to the Special Commissioner.A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, while hearing Sabarimala Special Commissioner Report, expressed concern over the manner in which the...

'Preservation Of Periyar Vital But No Breakthrough': Kerala High Court Presses For Urgent Cleaning Of River, Its Tributary

The Kerala High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the continued delay in ameliorating the contamination of Periyar River, particularly at the Kuzhikandam Thodu stretch.A Division Bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha was hearing a batch of petitions concerning pollution in the river, particularly Kuzhikandam thodu- its tributary. A.X. Varghese,...

Facilitate Temple Darshan For Persons With Disabilities, Consider Fixing Specific Days/Time Slots: Kerala High Court To Devaswom Boards

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 12) issued a set of directions to the four Devaswom Boards in the State, namely, Travancore, Cochin, Guruvayoor and Malabar Devaswom Boards, in order to facilitate temple darshan for persons with disabilities (PWDs).The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a suo motu petition, which was registered...

Kerala High Court Denies Anticipatory Bail To IT-Firm Owner Booked For Sexually Harassing Female Employee, Finds Anomalies In Probe

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 11) denied anticipatory bail to Venu Gopalakrishnan, owner of an IT firm in Info Park (Kakkanad) in an alleged case of sexual assault and harassment against his female employee. It however granted anticipatory bail to other accused persons, who are the employees and director of the firm.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that there were...

Kerala High Court Clears Decks For Global Ayyappa Sangamam, Issues Directives To Preserve Sanctity Of Sabarimala Temple, Devotees Rights

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 11) laid down detailed directives for the conduct of the 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam', which is scheduled to be held on September 20 in the premises of Sabarimala Shrine and at the banks of the River Pamba.The Court was considering petitions that claimed that the event was a political and commercial one, veiled as one related to devotion, tourism...

After Kerala High Court Nudge, State Govt Prepares Draft Circular On Guidelines To Prevent Snakebites

The Kerala High Court has taken note of the draft circular prepared by the State Government for formulating comprehensive guidelines on prevention and management of snakebites.The division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen, were hearing a petition on the issue of basic health care in relation to snake bites, which arose after an incident involving snake bite to...

Kerala High Court Defers Verdict In Criminal Case As Magistrate Fails To Supply Copy Of Order Rejecting Accused's Plea To Reopen Evidence

The Kerala High Court recently directed a Magistrate Court to defer the pronouncement of judgment in a case since it was posted for judgment the very next day after dismissing the accused's plea for re-opening evidence but without issuing him a copy of the dismissal order.Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan passed the judgment directing the Magistrate to defer its judgment by 2 weeks and to issue...

Kerala High Court Rejects Plea Of "Manjummel Boys" Producers Seeking Relaxation Of Bail Conditions To Attend Award Show In Dubai

The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Shawn Antony and Soubin Shahir, the producers of “Manjummel Boys” film, seeking relaxation of anticipatory bail conditions which prevent them from leaving India without permission of the Court.The producers, accused in a cheating case, sought to attend an award show in Dubai. Justice V G Arun however dismissed their plea.The...

Kerala High Court Forwards Pleas Over Stray Dog Menace To Supreme Court, Retains Matters Seeking Compensation For Dog Bites

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 11) directed its Registrar General to transmit records of pleas relating to stray dog menace in the State to the Supreme Court, following the Top Court's recent decision to formulate a national policy on the issue.While staying a division bench direction to not release stray dogs picked up from Delhi National Capital region for vaccination, a...