Nominal Index

Jayan Vatahakattu Moni v. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 518

Anto Augustine v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519

Union of India and Ors. v. Santosh Karwade and Anr. and connected case, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 520

Sagesh v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 521

Jisha Thomas v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 522

Kavya K. v. State of Kerala and Anr. & Keerthana K.C. v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 523

Raeesa Parveen v. Union of India and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 524

Amarnath Joshi Surendiran v. Secretary, Bar Council of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 525

K. Surendran v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 526

Raja Varier v. State of Kerala and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 527

Judgments/ Orders This Week

Kerala High Court Quashes Order Dismissing Actor Jayasurya's Income Tax Appeal, Remands For Fresh Consideration

Case Title: Jayan Vatahakattu Moni v. Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) and Anr.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 518

The Kerala High Court has quashed an order dismissing actor Jayasurya's (Jayan Vathakkattu Moni) income tax appeal, holding that an income-tax appellate authority cannot dismiss an appeal solely because the assessee failed to appear for the hearing.

Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. observed that the appellate authority is bound to frame points of determination as per Section 250(6) and answer the same by providing reasons.

Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine Arrested In Alcohol Possession Case

Case Title: Anto Augustine v. State of Kerala

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) granted regular bail to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, who is booked in an excise case for illegal possession of large quantities of alcohol in his residence in Wayanad.

Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that recovery was effected in the case already and that Augustine was also handed over to police custody.

Kerala High Court Upholds Navy Rule Allowing Investigating Officer To Act As Prosecutor In Court-Martial

Case Title: Union of India and Ors. v. Santosh Karwade and Anr. and connected case

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 520

The Kerala High Court has held that an Investigating Officer can also be appointed as the Prosecutor in a court-martial proceeding under the Navy Act, 1957, observing that such an appointment does not, by itself, violate the right to a fair trial guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John delivered the judgment in appeals arising from a single bench judgment.

Delay In Re-Submitting Final Report After Curing Formal Defects Not Ground For Default Bail: Kerala High Court

Case Title: Sagesh v. State of Kerala

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 521

The Kerala High Court has held that default bail cannot be granted merely because there was delay in re-submitting the final report, which was submitted within the statutory period and returned only for curing formal defects.

Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath reasoned:

“Where a final report is returned only for curing formal defects, the permission granted is to rectify such defects. Once cured and re- presented without any further investigation, the re-submission relates back to the original date of filing. It is immaterial whether the defect is cured within the period granted by the Court. Accordingly, I hold that where the final report is filed within the statutory period under Section 187 of the BNSS, and returned only for formal defects, its re-submission after curing such defects must be treated as within time, even if effected after expiry of the statutory period.”

Inter-Religion Marriage Also Entitles Couple To Benefits Under Inter-Caste Marriage Reservation: Kerala High Court

Case Title: Jisha Thomas v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 522

The Kerala High Court has observed that an inter-religion marriage must also be taken into consideration for Inter-Caste Marriage reservation benefits.

Justice Harisankar V. Menon made the observation while considering a writ petition filed by a person who sought appointment to the post of farm employee under the 'Inter-Caste Marriage' reservation category.

Vadakara MDMA Case: Kerala High Court Grants Bail To Two Teachers Booked Under NDPS Act

Case Titles: Kavya K. v. State of Kerala and Anr. & Keerthana K.C. v. State of Kerala

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 523

The Kerala High Court granted bail to two teachers, Kavya K. and Keerthana K.C., who were arrested in the Vadakara MDMA case.

The case relates to the drug trafficking case, involving school teachers and special educators as financial intermediaries.

Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath granted bail to third accused Kavya, who was arrested on July 25. The judge had, earlier this month, granted bail to second accused Keerthana, who was arrested on July 11.

Muslim Divorcee Need Not Produce Court Decree To Delete Husband's Name From Passport: Kerala High Court

Case Title: Raeesa Parveen v. Union of India and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 524

The Kerala High Court has held that the Passport Authority cannot insist on divorce decree for deletion of husband's name from the passport of a Muslim woman, when the 'talaq' is recognised under the Muslim Personal Law. 

Justice Murali Purushothaman observed,

"Divorce resulting from a 'talak' pronounced by the husband is a mode of divorce recognised and accepted under Muslim personal law...divorcees applying for change of name or for deletion of spouse's name in existing passport are not required to produce court's order for judicial separation / decree of divorce."

Kerala High Court Directs Bar Council To Continuously Review, Publish List Of Advocates Practicing Without Clearing AIBE, Valid CoP

Case Title: Amarnath Joshi Surendiran v. Secretary, Bar Council of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 525

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (September 23) directed the Bar Council of Kerala (BCK) to continuously update the list of advocates, who have not cleared All India Bar Examination (AIBE) or obtained Certificate of Practice (CoP).

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering a public interest litigation that pointed out the inaction on the part of the State Bar Council in not following the rules and the provisions of the Advocates Act, thereby permitting advocates to practice without a Certificate of Practice.

Sabarimala Gold Theft Probe: Kerala High Court Says Apprehension Of Vigilance Team Replacement Is 'Misconceived'

Case Title: K. Surendran v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 526

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 24) closed the plea moved by BJP leader K. Surendran seeking a direction not to replace the existing members of the Devaswom Vigilance Investigation Team functioning at Sabarimala, while the probe into the gold theft cases are pending.

The plea that came up before the Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was moved after seeing a news article dated September 14 on Mathrubhumi daily reporting that the State Police Chief is intending to replace the Vigilance Team members despite specific directions of the High Court.

Teacher Beating Female Student's Palm In Classroom Full Of Students Won't Attract Offence Of Outraging Modesty: Kerala High Court

Case Title: Raja Varier v. State of Kerala and Anr.

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 527

The Kerala High Court recently quashed the criminal proceedings against a male teacher, who was booked for the offence of outraging the modesty of his female student by allegedly beating her palm in a classroom.

Justice Jobin Sebastian observed that the teacher did not have requisite intent to outrage the de facto complainant's modesty as he beat her only to wake her in a class full of students.

Other Developments This Week

'Exceptional Case': Kerala Govt Objects To Ex-DGP Tomin J Thachankary's Sentence Suspension Plea In DA Case

Case No: Crl.A 1239/2026

Case Title: Tomin J. Thachankary v. State of Kerala

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) granted 2 days' time to the State to object to former Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary's plea to suspend his 4-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case.

When the matter came up before Justice A. Badharudeen, the public prosecutor submitted that he seeks to file a counter objecting to the sentence suspension plea in Thachankary's appeal against conviction.

Can MLA Convicted In Multiple Cases Avoid Disqualification If Each Sentence Is Below 2 Yrs? Kerala High Court Asks In Mani C Kappan's Case

Case No: WP(C) 31188/2026

Case Title: Dinesh Menon v. State of Kerala and Ors.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) orally asked if repeated convictions with sentences not exceeding to 2 years can avoid automatic disqualification of a legislator as per the Representation of Peoples Act.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas posed the question orally while hearing a plea filed by businessman Dinesh Menon seeking to disqualify Pala MLA Mani C. Kappan following his conviction in 4 cheque bounce cases in Mumbai.

MSC Elsa 3 Wreck: Kerala High Court Takes Note Of Maritime Administration's Proposal For Independent Underwater Survey To Assess Risks

Case Title: T. N. Prathapan v. Union of India and Ors. and connected cases

Case No: WP(PIL) 50/ 2025 and connected cases

The Kerala High Court has taken note of steps initiated by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) to assess the condition of submerged containers and the possible navigation and environmental risks associated with them following the MSC Elsa 3 wreckage.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was considering a batch of public interest litigations raising questions regarding the navigational hazards, marine pollution and livelihood issues of coastal communities posed with the sinkage of vessel.

Microfinance Fraud Case: Kerala High Court To Decide Whether Sanction Required To Prosecute Vellappally Natesan, Others

Case No: WP(C) No. 14599 of 2020 and Crl.MC No. 5539/2020

Case Title: M.S. Anil v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) observed that it would decide whether sanction is required to prosecute the accused persons in the ₹15.85 crore SNDP Microfinance Fraud case, including Vellappally Natesan and former MDs of Kerala State Backward Classes Development Corporation Ltd. (KSBCDC).

Justice A. Badharudeen heard arguments advanced by petitioner's counsel D. Anil Kumar and State Attorney Anoop V. Nair, who appeared for the State Home and Vigilance departments as well as the Backward Classes Development Department (BCDD).

Kerala High Court Grants State 4 Weeks To Appoint Independent Investigator In Police Complaints Authority

Case No: WP(PIL) 180/2026

Case Title: Jaffer Khan v. State of Kerala and Ors.

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (September 23) granted State four weeks' time to fill up the post of Chief Investigating Officer (CIO) in State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA), an independent body constituted as per the Kerala Police Act, 2011 to consider complaints against police officers.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. noted that the government's Home department has constituted a 3-member search-cum-selection committee for the selection of the CIO and that the committee was requested to take further steps to finalise the qualifications, experience and other details for the appointment for the post of chief investigation officer, keeping in view the nature and responsibility attached to the post.

KPSC Moves Kerala High Court To Quash FIR Over Exam Irregularities, Says State Can't Grant Prosecution Sanction Against Constitutional Body

Case No: WP(Crl.) 1435/2026 (Filing No)

Case Title: Kerala Public Service Commission and Anr. v. State of Kerala and Anr.

The Kerala Public Service Commission has moved the High Court seeking to quash prosecution sanction as well as the Crime Branch's FIR registered against its staff members over alleged irregularities in examination for recruitment to the State Planning Board.

According to the plea, the KPSC issued a notification in 2022 to the post of Chief (Industry & Infrastructure Division) and thereafter, the written exam was conducted. The shortlist with 10 candidates' names was published in February 2025 and one of these persons approached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal pointing out that 10 questions were not evaluated.

Supreme Court Collegium Recommends Making 5 Additional Judges Of Kerala High Court Permanent

The Supreme Court Collegium, in its meeting held on 23rd September 2026, has approved the proposal for appointment of the following Additional Judges as Permanent Judges of the High Court of Kerala:

(i) Shri Justice P. Krishna Kumar,

(ii) Shri Justice K.V. Jayakumar,

(iii) Shri Justice Muralee Krishna S.,

(iv) Shri Justice Jobin Sebastian, and

(v) Shri Justice P.V. Balakrishnan.

'PC Act Conviction Difficult, But Convicts Easily Released Pending Appeal': Kerala High Court Reserves Verdict In Ex-DGP Thachankary's Plea

Case No: Crl.A 1239/2026

Case Title: Tomin J. Thachankary v. State of Kerala

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 24) reserved its verdict in the sentence suspension plea preferred by former Director General of Police Tomin J. Thachankary in the disproportionate assets case.

Justice A. Badharudeen heard detailed arguments by Senior Advocate B. Raman Pillai, who appeared for Thachankary. The Court also heard the public prosecutor, who opposed the sentence suspension plea.

No Criminal Liability Established In Sabarimala Ghee Loss, But Administrative Lapses Need Fixing: Kerala High Court

Case Title: The Joint Director v. The Secretary and Connected case

Case No: DBAR 1/ 2026 and SSCR 3/ 2026

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (23 September) accepted the Vigilance report concluding that the alleged loss in the sale of Adiyashishtam Ghee packets at Sabarimala during the 2025-26 Mandala-Makaravilakku season could not, on the material presently available, be attributed to individual criminal liability.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, was considering the suo motu petition initiated on the basis of a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner alleging the misappropriation of money at the ghee sales counter.

Driver Profiling, Online Monitoring Platform, Private Buses Regulation: Kerala High Court Issues Slew Of Directions To Improve Road Safety

Case No: WP(C) No. 15090 of 2020

Case Title: Clemance Thottappilly v. State of Kerala

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (September 24) issued a slew of directions to improve road safety in the State and observed that a suo motu case “In Re: Road Safety in Kerala” in this regard needs to be registered for continuous monitoring.

The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar remarked that comprehensive, coordinated and time-bound directions are to be made and identified authorities to carry out each task/monitor compliance.

Kerala High Court Restricts Photography, Videography, Live Streaming On Premises; Prior Permission Required

The Kerala High Court has issued the 'General Guidelines for the Regulation of Photography, Videography and Live Streaming in the High Court' to ensure its security, dignity, decorum and smooth functioning.

The Guidelines are applicable to all persons entering the High Court premises, including advocates, litigants, interns, law clerks, officers, media persons and other visitors.

'Not Maintainable': MLA Mani C Kappan Objects To Plea Before Kerala High Court Seeking His Disqualification

Case No: WP(C) 31188 of 2026

Case Title: Dinesh Menon v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Pala MLA Mani C. Kappan has contended that the writ petition filed by businessman Dinesh Menon seeking his disqualification following conviction in 4 cheque cases is not maintainable.

Opposing the plea, Kappan has stated that the reliefs sought in the plea cannot be granted since there is an exclusive mechanism provided under the Constitution itself in the matter of disqualification of a sitting MLA. Referring to Article 192, it is submitted that the question regarding disqualification is to be referred to the Governor, who has to obtain the Election Commission's opinion and act according to it.
Kerala High Court Grants Protection From Arrest To CPI(M)'s KS Arunkumar In Case Over Post On Home Minister's Foreign Trip

Case No: Crl.MC 8069/2026

Case Title: K.S. Arunkumar v. State of Keralam and Anr.

The Kerala High Court on Friday (September 25) ordered that no coercive proceedings shall be taken against CPI(M) leader K.S. Arunkumar in the crime registered accusing him of criminal defamation and provoking riots by making a facebook post criticising Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala's foreign trip to the US.

While considering Arunkumar's plea to quash the criminal proceedings, Justice C.S Dias directed that he shall not be arrested and made it clear that the pendency of the case would not be a bar to proceed with the investigation.

CMRL Exalogic Case: High Court To Decide Correctness Of Kerala Govt Move For Enquiry Without FIR Against Pinarayi Vijayan, Kin

Case No: WP(Crl.) 1476/ 2026

Case Title: Adv. K.M. Shajahan v. State of Kerala and Ors.

The Kerala High Court on Saturday (September 26) observed that it would decide the correctness of Kerala government's move to conduct a preliminary enquiry without registering an FIR on receipt of Enforcement Directorate (ED) communication about alleged commission of Prevention of Corruption Act offences in the CMRL-Exalogic Payoff case.

The Bench of Justice A. Badharudeen was hearing a plea to register FIR incorporating offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas in the case.