Kerala High Court Weekly Roundup: March 30 - April 05, 2026

Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 175 - 185]Damodaran K. v. State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 175Dr. Vinu Thomas v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker)176N.P. Kunhikannan v State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 177Fazeela R.A and Anr. v State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 Livelaw (Ker) 178N. Prakash v State of Kerala and Connected case, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 179Thomas M.K v Govt. of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 180George John v Election Commission of India and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 181Anjali P.V. (popularly known as Anjali Nair) v. The Returning Officer and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 182Goshree Islands Development Authority and Anr. v. Tritvam Apartment Owners Association and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 183Aaliya Ashraf v State of Kerala, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 184XXX v. The United India Insurance Co. Ltd. and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 185Judgments/ Orders This Week'Even Owner Can't Unlawfully Enter Premises In Another's Lawful Possession': Kerala High Court Upholds Landlord's Guilt In Trespass CaseCase Title: Damodaran K. v. State of KeralaCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 175The Kerala High Court, in a recent judgement, upheld the finding of guilt of a landlord who had trespassed into his tenant's room and vandalized it.Justice Jobin Sebastian held:“It is well settled that offences such as criminal trespass and house trespass are offences against possession and not against ownership. Therefore, even a true owner cannot, under the guise of ownership, unlawfully enter premises in the lawful possession of another with the intent to commit an offence. In the present case, the mere fact that the accused is the owner of the room does not, ipso facto, absolve him of criminal liability when such entry is effected with the intention to commit an unlawful act.”Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Appointment Of Ex-CM VS Achuthanandan's Son As IHRD Director In-ChargeCase Title: Dr. Vinu Thomas v. State of Kerala and Ors.Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker)176The Kerala High Court has recently (26 March) dismissed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Dr. V.A Arun Kumar,son of the late former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthananthan as the Director In-Charge of the Institute of Human Resources Development.Justice N. Nagaresh delivered the judgment in a plea filed by Dr. Vinu Thomas, Dean (Academic) and Controller of Examinations (in charge) at APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.SHO Cannot Mandate Surrender Of Firearms Via Phone Calls Ahead Of Elections: Kerala High CourtCase Title: N.P. Kunhikannan v State of Kerala and Ors. and connected caseCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 177The Kerala High Court has held that Station House Officer (SHO) cannot mandate surrender of licensed firearms through phone calls ahead of Legislative Assembly Elections in the State.Justice C. Jayachandran delivered the judgment while allowing two writ petitions who challenged directives issued by local SHOs requiring them to deposit their arms ahead of elections.Kerala High Court Sets Aside Order Transferring School Playground, Cites Lack Of Proper ConsiderationCase Title: Fazeela R.A and Anr. v State of Kerala and Ors.Citation: 2026 Livelaw (Ker) 178The Kerala High Court has set aside a Government order that proposed transferring a substantial portion of land from a Government UP School in Ramavarmapuram for the construction of a Music College citing lack of proper consideration.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas examined whether the State's decision to transfer a government school playground for constructing a music college was legally sustainable.Kerala High Court Upholds 2024 Amendment To Kerala Lok Ayukta ActCase Title: N. Prakash v State of Kerala and Connected caseCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 179The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (31 March) upheld the amendments made to the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act (KLAA) in 2024.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M delivered the judgment.Co-operative Society Can Undertake Banking Activities: Kerala High Court Upholds State Co-operative Banking FrameworkCase Title: Thomas M.K v Govt. of Kerala and Ors.Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 180The Kerala High Court has dismissed a writ appeal challenging the constitutional validity of State co-operative banking laws including the Kerala State Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 and the Kerala State Co-operative Agricultural Development Banks Act, 1984.A Division Bench comprising Justice N. Nagaresh and Justice Johnson John delivered the judgment.Kerala High Court Rejects Plea To Enforce Chief Election Officer's Circular On Eco-Friendly Campaign Materials, Says No Violations ShownCase Title: George John v Election Commission of India and Ors.Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 181The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (01 April) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking enforcement of a circular issued by the Chief Election Officer on March 18, calling for use of eco-friendly and biodegradable...

Kerala High Court Weekly Roundup: March 30 - April 05, 2026

Anamika MJ

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