Kerala High Court
'We Are Bound To Treat Them Fairly': Kerala High Court Questions Continued Detention Of MSC Elsa 3 Foreign Crew Members
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (July 21) orally questioned the Centre over the continued detention of the foreign crew members of the Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa 3 ship, which capsized in May last year, observing that India is bound by international obligations to ensure the fair treatment of seafarers.Subsequent to the accident, a slew of litigation has ensued, including public interest litigations and admiralty suits before the High Court as well as criminal cases and statutory investigation...
Kerala High Court Seeks Statewide Data On Children's Courts, Pending POCSO Cases
The Kerala High Court has recently (15 July) directed the State Government and the Registry of the District Judiciary to furnish comprehensive data on the functioning of Children's Courts and the pendency of cases involving offences against children across the State.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. issued the direction in a public interest litigation filed by the District Court Bar Association, Thodupuzha–Muttom, and its Secretary. The PIL...
Touching Child's Chest With Sexual Intent Attracts POCSO Act, 'Chest' And 'Breast' Distinction Immaterial: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held that an accused grabbing a child's chest with sexual intent would satisfy the requirement of sexual assault prescribed under Section 7 POCSO Act, and that the anatomical different between chest and breast is immaterial. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 386]For context, Section 7 states that whoever, with sexual intent, touches the vagina, penis, anus or breast of the child...
Kerala High Court Passes Fresh Order Granting Police Protection To Viral Kumbh Mela Star
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (July 21) passed a fresh order granting police protection to viral Kumbh Mela star.The order was passed in a plea moved by the star alleging that hate campaigns were propagated against her on mainstream media and online platforms following her marriage to her husband Mohammed Farmaan, a Muslim man.Today, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas was informed by the counsel for the star that she had approached the police with a representation to give her protection after the...
Kerala High Court Restrains Coercive Action Against Ex-DGP Sreelekha Booked For Disclosing POCSO Victims' Names
The Kerala High Court on Monday (July 13) passed an interim order directing the investigating officer to desist from taking any coercive action against former Director General of Police (DGP) and Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Councillor Sreelekha R. IPS who is booked for allegedly disclosing the the names of victims in three rape cases through her YouTube channel and blog.Justice Jobin...
Hit-And-Run Cases Often Put On Back Burner Unless They Draw Media Attention: Kerala High Court Directs Formation Of Special Squads
The Kerala High Court on Monday directed the State Police Chief to constitute special squads in every district to trace offending vehicles and offenders involved in hit-and-run accidents, observing that such cases are often pushed to the back burner unless they attract media attention. The Court also urged the Union Government to overhaul the compensation framework for hit-and-run victims...
Typewritten Cheque Though Uncommon Is Not Illegal, Its Use Alone Can't Defeat NI Act Claim: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held the mere fact that a cheque is typewritten is not a legally sustainable ground to doubt its genuineness or refuse to invoke the statutory presumptions under the Negotiable Instruments Act. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 384]Justice A. Badharudeen delivered the judgment in a criminal appeal challenging the acquittal of the accused under Section 138 of the...
Sabarimala Gold Theft: Kerala High Court Directs SIT To Complete Probe After Receipt Of Scientific Report From National Metallurgical Lab
The Kerala High Court on Monday (July 20) noted that the final scientific report from the CSIR National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand has been received by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala Gold Theft case.The case refers to the alleged misappropriation of gold from the gold-cladded Dwarapalaka idols and door frames of the Sabarimala temple.The...
LiveLaw Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up: July 13 - July 19, 2026
Citations: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 370 - 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 382Nominal IndexSugathan R v. State of Kerala and Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 370Vinu K.S. and Anr. v. Veena Viswan, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 371Muhammed J.I. and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 372Sharestates, Inc. v. Prasad Choorakuzhiyil Gopalan & Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 373Tenny Joppen v. State of Kerala and...
Kerala High Court Closes Plea Against Vice-Chancellor's Appointment Of University Standing Counsel After Former Counsel's Resignation
The Kerala High Court on Monday (July 20) closed the plea filed challenging the appointment of Advocate Girija Gopal as standing counsel for the Kerala University by its Vice-Chancellor after removing Advocate Thomas, who was appointed by the Syndicate in 2016. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 383]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas noted that the plea has become infructuous since Advocate Thomas Abraham...
'Evaded Payment For 16 Years': Kerala High Court Rejects Cop's Appeals Against Compensation Award To Lawyer He Assaulted
The Kerala High Court recently dismissed two second appeals preferred by a police officer, who was directed to pay compensation to a lawyer who he had assaulted in 2010. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 379]Justice Easwaran S. observed that there are no substantial questions of law raised in the regular second appeals and that the same were bereft of merits.“The dispute started in the year 2010. For...
