Court Decree Not Needed To Change Spouse Name In Passport After Muslim Personal Law Divorce : Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that passport authorities cannot insist on a court-issued divorce decree for deleting a spouse's name from a passport when the marriage has already been dissolved through a legally recognised form of extra-judicial divorce under Muslim personal law.Justice Murali Purushothaman was delivering the judgment in a writ petition filed by a divorced Muslim woman...

'Have Endeavoured To Uphold Litigants' Sacred Trust In Courts With Integrity': Kerala High Court Justice MB Snehalatha In Farewell Address

Speaking at her farewell reference at the Kerala High Court on Friday (May 29) Justice M.B. Snehalatha said that each day on the bench reminded her of the trust placed by litigants in courts, adding that this trust is sacred and the she has endeavoured to uphold it with integrity, patience and impartiality. The event was attended by the judges of the Court, the Advocate General Jaju Babu,...

CMRL Moves Appeal In Kerala High Court Against Order Refusing To Quash ED Case Alleging Misappropriation Of Public Money

Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL) and its officials have moved the Kerala High Court in an appeal against a single-judge's order dismissing the company's plea to quash a case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) alleging misappropriation of Public Money.According to the appeal, the ED had registered ECIR on March 4, 2024 and subsequently issued summons to company officials...

Husband Of Viral Kumbh Mela Star Booked Under SC/ST Act: MP Police Informs Kerala High Court While Opposing Couple's Anticipatory Bail Plea

Madhya Pradesh police told the Kerala High Court on Friday (May 29) that an offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has been incorporated against Farmaan, the husband of viral Kumb Mela star and hence the anticipatory bail moved by the couple was not maintainable. The submission was made by ASG SV Raju appearing for MP police, before...

Sabarimala Ashtabhishekam Fund Misappropriation Case: Kerala High Court Directs State To Conduct 10-Yr Audit, Submit Report In Three Weeks

The Kerala High Court on Friday (May 29) directed the State Audit Department to conduct audit into the conduct of Ashtabhishekams in Sabarimala temple during the past 10 years and submit its report within 3 weeks.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a suo motu petition initiated based on a report by the Sabarimala Special...

'Ensure Sabarimala Pilgrims Don't Dump Clothes In River Pamba': Kerala High Court Directs TDB To Take Necessary Steps, Closes Suo Motu Plea

The Kerala High Court on Friday (May 29) closed the suo motu petition initiated to address the issue of dumping of Sabarimala pilgrims' clothes in the River Pamba after noting that 97% of the waste dumped has been removed.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar directed the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) and local authorities concerned to ensure...

Kerala HC Upholds Validity Of Industrial Relations Code Amendment Allowing Existing Labour Forums To Continue Till New Tribunals Are Set Up

The Kerala High Court has recently upheld the constitutional validity of Section 104(1A) of the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Act, 2026, and held that the provision enabling existing labour adjudicatory forums to continue functioning until new tribunals are constituted is a lawful transitional mechanism and not “manifestly arbitrary.”A Division Bench comprising Justice...

FIR For Scheduled Offence Not Necessary For ED Investigation : Kerala High Court In CMRL Case

The Kerala High Court has held that the absence of an FIR for a scheduled offence does not bar the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from initiating investigation proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Justice T.R. Ravi dismissed a writ petition filed by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and its officials challenging the ED proceedings initiated in connection with...

Independent, Fearless Judiciary Inevitable For 'Healthy Democracy': Kerala High Court Justice C Pratheep Kumar In His Farewell Address

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (26 May) held a farewell reference in honour of Justice C. Pratheep Kumar, who retires on May 28 after nearly three decades of judicial service, including over two and a half years as a Judge of the Kerala High Court.The reference was attended by members of the Bench, Bar, and legal fraternity. In his farewell address, Justice C. Pratheep Kumar said that...

Person Charged With 'Hurt To Deter Public Servant' Can Be Convicted For Minor Offence Of Simple Hurt, Not 'Hurt By Dangerous Weapons': Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court recently held that a person, who is charged with hurt to defer public servant under Section 332 IPC, cannot be convicted under Section 324 IPC for causing hurt by dangerous means/weapons unless a specific charge is made out as required under Section 222 CrPC.Justice Jobin Sebastian added that conviction under Section 323 IPC for simple hurt would sustain if Section 332...

Temple Land Acquisition Dispute Over NH Widening To Be Decided Under National Highways Act, Not LARR Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 does not completely govern land acquisitions undertaken under the National Highways Act merely because of the Central Government notification issued under Section 105 of the 2013 Act.Justice Easwaran S., delivered the judgment. The petitioners...

Shuhaib Murder Case: Kerala High Court Stays Sessions Court Order Cancelling Bail To All 17 Accused

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (May 26) stayed the order passed by the Additional Sessions Court III, Thalassery cancelling the bail of all the seventeen persons accused of the murder of Youth Congress activist Shuhaib and directed for the issuance of release order. Shuhaib was hacked to death allegedly by CPI(M) workers in Mattanur in Kannur district on February 12, 2018. As per the...