Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act | Kerala High Court Raps Competent Authority For 'Callous Inaction' In ₹2,000-Crore Popular Finance Scam

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (November 11) pulled up Competent Authority under Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019 (BUDS Act) for its continued inaction and non-compliance with court directives in the proceedings related to the Popular Finance unregulated deposit scam, estimated to have defrauded around 30,000 investors of nearly ₹2,000 crore.The Division Bench...

'Cultivating' Cannabis Plant An Offence Under NDPS Act Whether Planted In Pots Or In Earth: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently clarified that cultivation of cannabis plant is an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), and that it does not distinguish between cannabis plants grown in pots or in the earth.Justice C.S. Dias observed,“the expression 'cultivate any cannabis plant' used in Sections 8 (b) and 20 (a) of the Act encompasses any act of...

'No Evidence Of Control Or Exploitation': Kerala High Court Quashes Child Labour Case Under Juvenile Justice Act

The Kerala High Court recently quashed the criminal proceedings against the licensee of a rubber band manufacturing unit, who was booked under Sections 75 [Punishment for cruelty to child] and 79 [Exploitation of a child employee] of the Juvenile Justice Act for engaging child labourers.Justice C. Pratheep Kumar relied on the Apex Court decision in Narang S.C. v. State (2025) and the Kerala...

DRAT Need Not Mandate 50% Of Debt Due As Pre-Deposit To Entertain Appeals, Must Consider Subject Matter: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that there is no mandate under law that the pre-deposit amount should always be 50% of the debt due, while entertaining appeals under Section 18 SARFAESI [Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest] Act, challenging the order of the Debts Recovery Tribunal.It clarified that the Debt Recovery Appellate...

Bharat Mata Portrait Row: Kerala High Court Admits Plea By Kerala University Registrar To Revoke Suspension

The Kerala High Court has recently (November 11) admitted the petition of the Registrar of Kerala University, seeking revocation of Suspension following the Syndicate decision to revoke his suspension in the meeting convened on November 1, 2025.Justice N Nagaresh has admitted the petition and issued notice to the respondents. The petitioner, who has been suspended since July, 2025, has...

Kerala High Court Refuses To Relax Ban On Sale Of Chemical Kumkum At Sabarimala, Says Health & Ecology Over Commerce

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (November 12) refused to modify its order banning the sale of chemical kumkum and shampoo sachets in Sabarimala.The Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar remarked that it is concerned about the devotees and ecology of Sabarimala, and not the commercial aspects of kuthaka holders (stall owners), who may be affected...

Long-Term Posting Of Same Police Officer At Sabarimala Can Undermine Transparency, Efficiency: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has directed the Chief Police Co-ordinator to submit details of all police officers currently holding critical positions in Sannidhanam and Pamba, along with the duration of their posting.The division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K V Jayakumar issued the direction while considering a Special Commissioner report pertaining to change of...

TP Chandrasekharan Murder | Kerala High Court Seeks State's Stand In Convict's Mother's Plea To Transfer Him From Thavanur Jail To Kannur

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (November 11) sought the State's stand while considering a plea to transfer N.P. Sunil Kumar @ Kodi Suni, undergoing life imprisonment for the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case, from Central Prison & Correctional Home, Thavanur (Malappuram) to Central Prison & Correctional Home, Kannur.Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath was considering a petition filed by...

Arbitration Agreement Is Valid Even Without Signature If Parties Acted Upon It: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court held that written agreement need not to be signed by the parties if the consensus ad idem and intention to arbitrate is reflected from the conduct of the parties and documentary evidence. Justice S. Manu allowed the application seeking reference to arbitration holding that an arbitration agreement in writing may exist even without signatures provided there is a...

Kerala High Court Seeks BCI's Response On Kozhikode Govt Law College's 5-Year LLB Course Running Without Approval Since 2011

The Kerala High Court has sought response from the Bar Council of India in a plea alleging that the body failed to approve a five-year B.A LL.B course at Government Law College, Kozhikode, after 2011.Justice V G Arun, has asked the standing counsel of the bar body to seek instructions in the matter.The petition was filed by an advocate from Idukki, who discovered his law degree was...

Kerala University Faculty Approaches High Court Alleging Harassment Over Sanskrit PhD Row

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (11 November) directed the standing counsel for Kerala University to get instructions in a writ petition moved by DR. C N Vijayakumari, Dean of Faculty of Oriental Studies at the varsity, alleging harassment over Sanskrit Ph.D row.When the matter was taken up for admission, Justice V G Arun directed the standing counsel to get instruction while observing that...

Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Two Accused Booked For 2021 Murder Of CPI(M) Leader Sandeep Kumar

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (November 11) granted bail to two persons, who are accused of the murder of the CPI(M) leader Sandeep Kumar in Pathanamthitta district, alleged to have been committed on December 2, 2021.They are accused of the offences under Sections 120B, 143, 147, 148, 302, 307, 452, 506(ii), 294(b), 149 and 212 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 20 r/w Section 27...