After Kerala High Court Nudge, State Decides To Sanction ₹10 Crore For Road Repairs Near Kochi Metro Pillars

The Kerala High Court was informed on Wednesday (02 September) that the State government has decided to sanction ₹10 crore to the Kochi Municipal Corporation for rectification works on a 3.10-km stretch of Sahodharan Ayyappan Road from Vyttila Metro Station to Manorama Junction.The submissions were made by an affidavit filed before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M, considering a public interest litigation highlighting multiple instances of...

Minor's Relationship With Accused Or Consent Has No Relevance Under POCSO Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has reiterated that a minor victim's alleged love relationship with the accused, or even consensual sexual intercourse, cannot be relied upon by an accused to escape criminal liability under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act). [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 486]Justice A. Badharudeen made the observation while dismissing a criminal appeal filed by an accused challenging his conviction and sentence for aggravated sexual assault of a minor. The...

Nedumangad Child Death Case: Kerala Police Tells High Court Investigation Complete, Final Report Filed Before Special Court

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (September 2) was informed by the Kerala Police probing the Nedumangad Child Death case that investigation is over and final report has been filed before the jurisdictional court under SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.The case refers to the death of a 1 ½ year-old toddler in Negumangad, Thiruvananthapuram on May 29, 2026 allegedly due to the torture inflicted on him by his mother's partner, Ashkar.The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam...

NIA Can't Recover Salary Paid To Public Prosecutor During Deputation Based On Later Pay Re-Fixation: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that National Investigation Agency cannot recover salary paid to public prosecutor during deputation based on later pay re-fixation. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 483]A Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji made the observation while allowing an Original Petition filed by a person who had served as an Assistant Public Prosecutor under the State of Kerala before being appointed on deputation as Public Prosecutor with the National...

Brothel Customer An 'Active Participant' In Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Liable Under Immoral Trafficking Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a customer visiting a brothel would be criminally liable under Sections 5 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 484]The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar clarified the position of law while answering a reference made by a Single Bench in view of conflicting decisions by...

Kerala High Court Upholds Constitutionality Of Railways' Power To Remove & Prosecute Intoxicated Persons In Trains, Railway Premises

The Kerala High Court has upheld the constitutional validity of Section 145(a) of the Railways Act, 1989 which empowers the railways to remove intoxicated persons from trains or railway premises as well as to prosecute them. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 481]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas noted that sufficient procedure has been laid down by the Ministry of Railways in its circular dated 14.09.2023 to...

Kissing Child's Penis Amounts To Penetrative Sexual Assault Under POCSO Act: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has clarified that kissing a child's penis amounts to penetrative sexual assault as defined under Section 3(d) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act). [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 482]Justice A. Badharudeen dismissed an appeal preferred by a convict, who was awarded a 20-year term for kissing a 14 ½ year old boy on two occasions.“the statutory...

'No Transparency, No Accountability; Worse Than Jail': Kerala High Court Considers Social Audit Of Mental Health Centres, Press Access

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 1) observed that it is considering having a social audit of all the Mental Health Centres in the State.The Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji today recorded in its order:"There is a suggestion in the Bar by the learned amici curiae that there should be a social audit of the centres with even personnel of the...

Former Wife Protected By DV Act Residence Order Can Seek Police Protection, But Can't Oust Husband From His Own House: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently granted police protection to a woman, who was sharing a household with her former husband, after obtaining a residence order under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 479]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas directed that police protection can be given upon written request since the peculiar living situation might create...

Accused Re-Arrested Without Court Permission After Prior Arrest Was Vitiated Entitled To Bail: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court recently held that bail cannot be denied citing implied permission to re-arrest was given by the Magistrate when no application seeking the same was moved by the investigating officer. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 477]Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath granted bail to an accused, who was re-arrested without prior judicial approval after his earlier arrest was vitiated due...

RTO Cannot Summon Vehicle Owner Based On Anonymous Rash Driving Complaint: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that authorities under the Motor Vehicles Act cannot summon or subject a vehicle owner to proceedings on the basis of a concealed complaint alleging rash or dangerous driving, without following the procedure prescribed by law. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 478]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas was delivering the judgment in a writ petition seeking protection against harassment...

Wife's Past Kidney Donation Can't Be Ground To Reject Husband's Kidney Donation Application: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that an application for permission to donate a kidney cannot be rejected merely because the proposed donor's wife had donated a kidney several years earlier. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 476]Justice Harisankar V. Menon was delivering the judgement in a petition challenging the orders passed by the District Level Authorisation Committee for Transplantation of Human...