Kerala High Court Directs District Collector To Grant Permission To Conduct Pamba Boat Race On February 01

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (22 January) directed the District Collector, Pathanamthitta to grant permission to the Pamba Boat Race Club, Neerattupuram, to conduct its boat race on 1 February, 2026.

Justice N Nagaresh, gave the direction while considering a writ petition filed by the club and its office-bearers challenging the refusal of the district administration to grant permission for a revised date.

The petitioners had earlier pointed out that although a Division Bench had restored the schedule fixed by the District Collector, the boat race could not be conducted on the originally scheduled date on 19 September 2025, since a Champions Boat League (CBL) tournament was held at Kainakary on the same day.

Subsequently, the Court permitted the conduct of the boat race on December 28, 2025.

The Court was informed that the Boat race could not be conducted on the rescheduled date due to an agreement by the CBL with the boat owners. The petitioner thus proposed to conduct the Boat Race on 01 February, 2026.

The Court has directed the District Collector to grant permission to the petitioners to conduct the Boat Race on the proposed date.

It has further directed deployment of sufficient police personnel to maintain law and order during the conduct of the race, the expenses for which will be met by the petitioners.

The matter is posted for on 20 February, for further consideration.

Case Title: Pamba Boat Race Club Neerattupuram and Anr v State of Kerala and Ors.

Case No: WP(C) 32982/ 2025

Counsel for Petitioner: Liju V Stephen, Indu Susan Jacob, Taj K Tom

Counsel for Respondents: Joseph George, P A Rejimon, Vivekjos Puthukulangara