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 a circular within two weeks, notifying detailed guidelines formulated at a High Level meeting held on September 1, 2025. The guidelines are intended to streamline preventive and emergency responses to snakebite incidents in educational institutions across the State.The Court has directed the State government to publish the guidelines in both English and Malayalam on its official website, while also providing email addresses for suggestions. Instructions must be issued to government departments and agencies, clearly specifying their roles and responsibilities. Importantly, the Court clarified that schools cannot be burdened with tasks, such as ensuring the availability of anti-venom, that fall within the ambit of government departments.“The entire responsibility cannot be placed on school to perform task beyond their capacity, which is the responsibility of government department such as ensuring availability of anti-venom etc. The circular should carry out the changes accordingly,” the Court said. The court has directed that the working group constituted on September 1, 2025 will continue as a Joint Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, until a permanent framework for monitoring is put in place. This Committee is tasked with overseeing compliance, reviewing, and updating the guidelines. It may collaborate with the Kerala State Legal Services Authority and also include representatives from non-governmental organisations working in the field.The Joint Committee will devise a standard operating procedure (SOP) for monitoring and reporting, meeting at least twice a year. Nodal officers will be appointed at both the State and district levels to collect data and present it before the Committee.The Court also directed the State to expedite efforts, in coordination with relevant agencies, for the development of anti-venom vaccines. Furthermore, the government has been asked to take steps within two months to include snakebite as a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, in line with a 2024 communication from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.The Court thus disposed of the petition.Case Title: Kulathoor Jaisingh v State of Kerala and Ors and connected matterCase No: WP(C) 32493/2019 and connected matterCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 607 Counsel for Petitioner: R GopanCounsel for Respondents: N Manoj Kumar (State Attorney), K R Ranjith (GP), Santhosh Mathew (Sr), Saji P Joseph, C C Mathew, G Mini (Palath), A Seena, Sali P Mathew, Deepesh E SAmicus Curiae: G BijuClick Here To Read/ Download Judgment

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

Anamika MJ

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