[S.50 MV Act] Registered Owner Of Offending Vehicle Liable To Compensate For Accident, Can Recover Amount From Transferee: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently held that the registered owner of a vehicle involved in an accident can recover the compensation paid from the transferee of the offending vehicle, if the transfer, which occurred prior to the accident, was not in accordance with Section 50 of the Motor Vehicles Act.Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen reiterated the finding of the Apex Court in Naveen Kumar v....

Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up: September 22 - September 28, 2025

Nominal Index [Citations: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 588 - 608]Muhammed Anwarsha v State of Kerala, 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 588Babu K.M. v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 589The District Collector and Others v Thangal Kunju and Anr, 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 590Anoop Paul v. M.P. Cherian and Anr., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 591Santhosh Kumar v. Syamala and Anr., 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 592XXX v. State of...

High Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Manipulation In CSI South Kerala Diocese Voter List

The Kerala High Court has admitted a petition filed by two parishioners of the Church of South India (CSI) South Kerala Diocese, raising allegations of manipulation in the church's voters' list and seeking to halt the upcoming triennial elections.Justice Murali Purushothaman admitted the petition and directed notices to be issued to the respondents, including the CSI Synod, the South...

Employees Compensation Act Does Not Bar Lok Adalat From Adjudicating Compensation Claim Upon Employee's Death: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that Permanent Lok Adalats can settle or adjudicate the claims for compensation against employers upon the death of employees. It found that the bar under the Employees Compensation (EC) Act do not apply to the proceedings under Section 22C of the Legal Services Authorities Act.Justice M.A. Abdul Hakhim was considering an appeal preferred by the parents of...

Kerala High Court Aids Schizophrenic Litigant In Getting Psychiatric Assistance After He Filed Plea Suspecting Proceedings Against Himself

The Kerala High Court recently undertook a unique act of judicial activism when it aided a litigant, who was appearing in person and suffering from schizophrenia, to take mental health support.The Division Bench of Dr. Justice Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Jobin Sebastian was considering a writ petition filed by the petitioner on a suspicion that he would be detained in accordance with...

Market Value Of Property Must Be Determining Factor Under Commercial Courts Act, Not Court Fee Value: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the market value of the property must be the determining factor under Section 12 (1)(c) of the Commercial Courts Act, and not the valuation adopted for the purpose of court fees under the Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959.A Full Bench comprising Justice Sathish Ninan, Justice C.S. Dias, and Justice C.S. Sudha delivered the judgement...

Kerala High Court Seeks Customs Dept Response On Dulquer Salman's Plea Challenging Seizure Of Car

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 26) sought the response of the Customs Department on a petition filed by actor-producer Dulquer Salman challenging the seizure of his Land Rover Defender by Customs officials as part of Operation Numkhor.He has contended that the Customs action was "arbitrary, illegal, and based on mere suspicion". A bench of Justice Ziyad Rahman posted the matter...

Kerala High Court Directs State To Decide On Sanction For Vigilance Probe Into PP Divya's Alleged Benami Deals

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 25) directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the State to consider and pass orders for prior sanction to conduct vigilance inquiry into the alleged benami deals of former Kannur district panchayat president P.P. Divya.Justice A. Badharudheen was considering a plea by Kerala Students Union (KSU) Vice-President, Muhammed Shammas P., seeking a...

Kerala High Court Directs State To Notify Snakebite Management Guidelines For Schools, Says Anti-Venom Supply Is Govt Responsibility

The Kerala High Court has issued directions to the State government on the issue of snakebite management and basic healthcare in schools, while disposing of a writ petition filed in connection with the 2019 snakebite incident involving a school student.Delivering the judgment, the division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen directed the State to issue...

Kerala High Court Upholds Stay On Judicial Commission Inquiry Into ED's Probe In Gold Smuggling Case

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 26) upheld a Single Judge's interim order staying the State-appointed Inquiry Commission to probe if the Enforcement Directorate and other central agencies are falsely implicating political leaders in the State, including its CM Pinarayi Vijayan, in the gold smuggling case.The gold smuggling case involved seizure of 30 Kgs gold worth Rs.14.82 Crores...

Seniority Must Be Based On Length Of Service In Absence Of Specific Rules When Cadres Are Integrated: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that in absence of specific rules regarding reckoning of seniority after integration of cadres, length of service is the appropriate criterion for determining seniority.The Division Bench comprising Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. set aside an earlier judgment of a single judge. The case arose after the Kerala State Electricity...

Kerala High Court Says State Can Maintain Admiralty Suit Over MSC Elsa 3 Sinking But Slashes Security For Release Of Arrested Sister Vessel

The Kerala High Court has modified the security amount to be deposited for the release of sister ship of MSC Elsa 3 from Rs. 9531 crores to Rs. 1227.62 crores. Earlier, the Court had ordered for the conditional arrest of the MSC Akiteta II (1st defendant ship) in an admiralty suit filed by the government of Kerala (plaintiff).Justice M.A. Abdul Hakhim observed:“the Order dated 07.07.2025...