Suraj Lama Missing Case: Kerala High Court Expresses Displeasure Over Delay In Forensic Identification

The Kerala High Court on Monday (12 January) granted two weeks time to the Forensic laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram to examine the body recovered from Kalamassery, suspected to be that of Suraj Lama— an Indian citizen deported from Kuwait who allegedly went missing after landing at Kochi International Airport.A Division Bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha was dealing with a habeas corpus petition filed by Lama's son and expressed displeasure over delay...

Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala High Court Suggests State To Enact Law With Penal Provisions To Protect Temple Properties

The Kerala High Court on Monday (January 12) orally suggested the Additional Director General of Prosecution to make a recommendation to the State to make a law for protecting temple properties that would also contain penal provisions for violation of duties.Justice A. Badharudeen was considering the bail pleas of former Travancore Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, TDB ex-official Murari Babu and jeweller Roddam Govardhanan. All of them are presently under custody and arrayed as the...

'Justice Must Be Accessible, Timely And Meaningful': Justice Soumen Sen Assumes Office As 40th Chief Justice Of Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Monday (12 January) welcomed Justice Soumen Sen, who assumed office as the 40th Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, in a full court reference attended by judges, members of the Bar.Chief Justice Soumen Sen, beginning with a greeting in Malayalam, expressed deep gratitude for the warmth and affection extended to him. Reflecting on his journey from Calcutta, “the confluence of culture”, to Meghalaya, “the abode of clouds,” and now to Kerala, “God's Own Country,” he...

Martin Antony Moves Kerala High Court Challenging Rape Conviction & Sentence In 2017 Actress Assault Case

Martin Antony, the second accused in the 2017 actress abduction and rape case moved the Kerala High Court on Monday (January 12) challenging his conviction and sentence passed by the Principal District and Sessions Court Ernakulam.The Sessions Court had found him to be guilty of the offences under Sections 109, 120B, 342, 354, 354(b), 366, 355(b), 357, 354B and 376D of the Indian Penal Code...

Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up : January 05 - January 11, 2026

Nominal Index [Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 5 - 21]Shereefa Munvara and Anr. v. Muhammed Kabeer, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 5Mathews J. Nedumpara v. Union of India and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 6Raju Abraham and Anr v. State of Kerala and Ors, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 7Shaduli P.M. v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 8Velayudhan and Anr v Kuttooli and Ors, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 9XXX v. Gopalan...

Kerala High Court Directs State To Pay ₹14 Lakh Compensation To NRI Man & Kin For Wrongful Detention

The Kerala High Court recently directed the State government to pay Rs. 14 Lakhs compensation to a NRI man and family after he was imprisoned for a period of 54 days in judicial custody based on false charges.Justice P.M. Manoj awarded Rs. 10 lakhs to the man and Rs. 1 lakh each to four of his family members as a compensation for the mental agony, trauma, defamation and harassment faced by them at the hands of the police officers.The petitioner, V.K. Thajudheen, was working in Qatar in an...

Magistrate Taking Cognizance Based On Protest Complaint Must Pass Speaking Order & Consider Refer Report: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a magistrate taking cognizance based on a protest complaint must consider the refer report filed by the police and pass a speaking order.Referring to the decisions in Parameswaran Nair v. Surendran [2009 (1) KLT 794] and C.R. Chandran v. State of Kerala [ILR 2024 (3) Ker. 245], Justice C. Pratheep Kumar observed:“Therefore, it is evident that while...

Victim Cannot File Second Appeal Against Order Affirming Acquittal By Seeking Special Leave From HC U/S 419(4) BNSS: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently passed a judgment holding that a victim cannot file a second appeal against the acquittal of an accused by seeking special leave from the High Court as per Section 419(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.Relying on the Supreme Court's observations in Asian Paints Limited v. Ram Babu and Another, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas remarked:“It is evident from...

Brand Ambassador Not Liable For Unfair Trade Practices Or Deficient Service Unless Directly Linked To Transaction With Consumer: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court recently held that a brand ambassador will not be liable for a brand's unfair trade practice or deficiency in service unless a direct link is established between him and the consumer's transaction.Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. however clarified that an action may lie against a brand ambassador/endorser under Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act for false or...

Kerala High Court Strikes Down Devaswom Recruitment Board's Power Over Guruvayoor Appointments

The Kerala High Court has held that Section 9 of the Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board Act, 2015 (KDRB Act) which empowers the KDRB to prepare select lists for the appointment of candidates to various posts in the Guruvayoor Devaswom posts is unconstitutional. The Division Bench of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice Syam Kumar V M were considering an appeal filed by the...

Justice Soumen Sen Sworn-In As Chief Justice Of Kerala High Court

Justice Soumen Sen was sworn in as the 40th Chief Justice of Kerala High Court on Saturday (January 10).The oath of office was administered by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was also present during the swearing in ceremony.The Central Government had earlier issued a notification to transfer Justice Sen from Meghalaya High Court...

'We Are Defined Not By The Office We Hold, But By Choices We Make': Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar Bids Farewell To Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Friday (09 January) bid farewell to its 39th Chief Justice, Justice Nitin Jamdar, who demitted office on superannuation.A full court reference was held in the presence of judges, senior advocates, members of the Bar and court staff. Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar expressed deep gratitude to the Bench, Bar and registry, describing the Kerala High Court not merely as...