A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. issued the direction in a public interest litigation filed by the District Court Bar Association, Thodupuzha–Muttom, and its Secretary.

The PIL challenges issues relating to Children's Courts in Kerala. One of the issues raised in the PIL is as to whether the Special Public Prosecutor appointed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act could be given any additional charge for the case under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

Pursuant to the earlier directions of the Court, the Director General of Prosecution had filed a report detailing the government's stand on the issue relating to additional charge for Public prosecutors for cases under Juvenile Justice Act

The Bench observed that additional information was necessary to effectively adjudicate the issues raised in the PIL and hence directed the State to file an additional affidavit specifying the total number of Children's Courts functioning in Kerala, the number of cases pending before each Children's Court, classified according to the nature of the offences.

The Court further stated that the affidavit must also specify whether Special Public Prosecutors or Public Prosecutors have been appointed to conduct cases involving offences against children under Chapter IX of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The Court also directed the Registrar (District Judiciary), High Court of Kerala, to submit an affidavit containing all available data on the pendency of cases before Children's Courts and POCSO Courts, if they are distinct from Children's Courts, with the cases classified according to the nature of offences.

The matter has been posted for further consideration on July 29.

Case Title: District Court Bar Association and Anr. v State of Kerala and Ors.

Case No: WP(PIL) 75/ 2026

Counsel for Petitioner: V.M. Krishnakumar, P.R. Rema

Counsel for Respondents: T. Asaf Ali (DGP), Harikumar G