'Casual And Lackadaisical Investigation By CBI': Kerala High Court Orders Further Probe Into Violinist Balabhaskar's Death

The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 9) ordered further investigation into the death of violinist Balabhaskar, who had a fatal car accident in 2018. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 568]Justice G. Girish allowed the plea preferred by the late musician's parents and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to entrust the investigation to an officer of proven integrity, not below the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police. The Court noted that in a 2022 judgment, a co-ordinate...

Hitting Chest With Elbow Does Not Show Intent To Outrage Woman's Modesty: Kerala High Court Reverses Conviction

The Kerala High Court has acquitted a man convicted under Section 354 IPC, holding that the alleged act of hitting a woman on her chest with an elbow, in the circumstances of the case, did not establish the requisite intention to outrage her modesty. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 569]Justice Jobin Sebastian allowed the criminal revision petition and set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by...

Kerala High Court Warns Of Closing All Livestock Markets If Animal Market Monitoring Committees Not Constituted In 8 Weeks

The Kerala High Court has recently warned that if the District Collectors fails to constitute the District Animals Markets Monitoring Committees in every district within a period of eight weeks, directions will be issued to close down all livestock markets.The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M issued the direction in a public interest litigation seeking stoppage of cattle markets operating without thatched roofs, in violation of the Livestook Market...

Kerala High Court Directs Police To Strictly Enforce Public Smoking Ban, Calls For Awareness Drives

The Kerala High Court has recently directed the State Police to continue complying with its earlier judgment prohibiting smoking in public places and strictly enforce the applicable statutory provisions. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 566]The Court further directed the government authorities to conduct awareness programmes on the legal prohibition and the harmful effects of passive smoking.A Division...

Kerala High Court Directs FIR Against Ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter Based On ED Information In CMRL-Exalogic Case

The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 9) directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an 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 CMRL-Exalogic payoff case. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 567]Justice A. Badharudeen further held that the government's decision to conduct preliminary enquiry without registration of FIR is illegal considering the facts of the...

'Courts Must Appoint Guardians For Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients If Circumstances Warrant': Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent decision, appointed a guardian for a 93-year-old woman with dementia and Alzheimer's disease while considering her sister's plea under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 565]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas remarked that courts must appoint guardians for persons with dementia or Alzheimer's disease if the conditions get worse and...

Authorized Govt Officer's Complaint Not Needed When Notary Intentionally Participates In Document Forgery: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that an authorized government officer's complaint is not necessary to prosecute a notary, who intentionally participates in document forgery. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 564]Justice A. Badharudeen held that the afore protection provided under Section 13(1) of the Notaries Act would be applicable only when the notary is performing the duties under the statute....

Waqf Tribunal Can Permit Interrogatories Under Order XI CPC: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a Waqf Tribunal possesses the power to permit parties to deliver interrogatories under Order XI of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) as it is deemed as a civil court under Section 83(5) of the Waqf Act, 1995.A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. delivered the judgment in appeals filed by the Kerala State Waqf...

Obscene Words, General Abuse At Woman Not Offence U/S 354A(1)(iv) IPC If No Allegation Of Sexually Coloured Remark: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that utterance of general abuse or obscene words at a woman without any specific allegation of a sexually coloured remark would not attract the offence of sexual harassment as per Section 354A(1)(iv) of the Indian Penal Code. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 563]Justice Jobin Sebastian observed:“the mere utterance of obscene words would not, by itself,...

Goshree Islands Development Authority Entitled To Set Up Commercial Kiosks At Kochi's Queen's Walkway: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (October 7) held that the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) is entitled to set up commercial kiosks at the Queen's Walkway in Kochi. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 561].The Division Bench of Dr. Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preeta A.K. set aside an order of the Single Bench, which barred construction of the kiosks citing that the same...

Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala High Court Sets Timelines For SIT To Request Prosecution Sanctions In Dwarapalaka, Doorframes Cases

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (October 7) set timelines for the Special Investigation Team to request for prosecution sanction and for submitting final reports in the Sabarimala Gold Theft cases.Time has been granted till October 25 in the Doorframes case. In the Dwarapalaka idols case, the time granted is till November 25.The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice...

'Undue Fetter' On Right Of Appeal: Kerala High Court Sets Aside Order Requiring 50% Maintenance Deposit For Delay Condonation

The Kerala High Court recently held that courts cannot impose deposit of a percentage of the award amount as condition while considering an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act to condone delay in preferring an appeal. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 558]Justice Jobin Sebastian opined that such a condition may be justified when the appellate court is considering an application for stay...