Kerala High Court

Welfare state should pay for contract work without being forced: Kerala HC

Kerala HC ruled that a welfare state is responsible to pay citizens engaged on a contract basis by it, in line with the terms under the contract, without forcing citizens to demand it

'Centre, states should take steps to tackle drug abuse among children'

The regional judicial colloquium on "POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act), Juvenile Justice & Drug Abuse among Children" organised by the Kerala High Court has decided to make recommendations to the Central and State governments to adopt certain measures for tackling the issue of drug abuse amongst children.

Did not delay implementation of 2020 tariff regime: Trai to Kerala HC

Telecom regulator TRAI on Wednesday told the Kerala High Court that it did not delay implementation of its 2020 regulations and tariff order regarding TV channel pricing as all stakeholders, including members of AIDCF, were of the view that it requires a re-look. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) told Justice Shaji P Chaly that it was not at fault as the 2020 regulations were challenged before the Bombay High Court and it had passed some interim orders on the same. Later when the matter reached the Supreme Court, all the stakeholders, including AIDCF which has presently challenged TRAI's 2022 interconnect regulations and tariff order, were of the view that another consultation process was required. TRAI was responding to the claims of the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) that the regulator never properly implemented the 2020 regime. "We were not at fault," the TRAI's lawyer told the High Court during the close to an hour-long arguments on behalf of the ...

In a first, Kerala High court begins publishing judgements in vernacular

The judgements were passed by a division of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly in January 2023, and the same were made available in Malayalam on the High Court's website recently

Kerala HC rejects plea claiming arrest, detention for waving black flags

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking a declaration that arrest and detention for waving black flags in protest is 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional.' The petition, which also sought compensation for those booked for waving black flags at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in protest last year, was rejected by a bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Murali Purushothaman. The detailed order giving reasons for dismissing the plea is not yet available, advocate Rajesh Vijayan, who appeared for the petitioner, said. The matter assumes significance as many Youth Congress workers were arrested or put in preventive detention in the last few days for waving black flags at the Kerala CM, or allegedly planning to do so, while he was in Kozhikode and other districts of the state. The plea, by one Sam Joseph, had also sought an inquiry into the alleged professional misconduct by the officers concerned who had on June 11 last year taken into preventive custody two ...

Broadcasters-cable operators face-off: Kerala HC to continue hearing on Tue

Justice Shaji P Chaly in whose court the matter is being heard has posted the issue for Tuesday

Kerala High Court to hear plea against broadcasters to restore signals

Star, Sony, Zee go off cable platforms over NTO 3.0 pricing

Housewife a nation builder: Kerala HC orders adequate compensation to woman

The Kerala High Court slammed the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for denying compensation to an accident victim on the ground that she is a housewife and does not earn any income

Plea in Kerala HC seeking law to prohibit practice of black magic, sorcery

A plea has been filed in the Kerala High Court seeking to pass a law to prohibit the practice of black magic, sorcery and inhuman evil practices in the society. A bench headed by the Chief Justice S Manikumar which had on Tuesday considered the plea, asked the government what was the reason for the delay in passing such a statute. The court has said that it will further hear the matter after two weeks. The writ petition filed by Kerala Yukthi Vadhi Sangam, which claims to stand for rationalism, humanism, scientific temper and spirit of inquiry, told the High Court that the state was continuously witnessing some crimes in connection with superstitious beliefs. "Currently, there are no adequate provisions in the general penal statute to prohibit the same or to be otherwise dealt with...Karnataka and Maharashtra are two states which have passed statutes in this regard," the plea, filed through lawyer P V Jeevesh, said. The petition sought to consider and take a decision on the ...

Terrorism affecting life and liberty of people, says Kerala High Court

Terrorism is an evil affecting the life and liberty of people and the growth of the nation in all respects, Kerala High Court said while refusing to suspend the sentence of three persons convicted of attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. No religion propagates terrorism or hatred but some fanatics or religious fundamentalists have distorted the views of religion for spreading messages of terrorism and hatred, the court said. A bench of Justice Alexander Thomas and Justice Sophy Thomas refused to suspend the sentence and grant bail to the trio -- Midlaj, Abdul Razak and Hamsa -- considering the gravity of the offence prima facie proved against them even though they have undergone a major portion of their sentence. "Terrorism is an evil affecting the life and liberty of people. It affects the growth of the nation in all respects. In fact, no religion propagates terrorism or hatred. "But, unfortunately, some fanatics or religious fundamentalists have distorted the views of ...

Relief to 'Kantara' makers as SC stays bail condition imposed by Kerala HC

Top court takes note of plagiarism charge but says copyright suit can't be decided in an anticipatory bail; says movie's director, producer won't be arrested when they appear for hearing on Feb 12-13

SC agrees to examine same-sex couple plea against Kerala HC order

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a plea by same-sex couple challenging the Kerala High Court order directing one of them to attend counselling sessions with a psychiatrist.

Lawyer accused of bribing judges in Kerala moves High Court to quash case

A lawyer accused of taking money from his clients under the guise of settling cases allegedly by bribing judges has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in this connection. The police had on February 1 registered a case against Saiby Jose Kidangoor, who is also an officer-bearer of the Kerala High Court Advocates Association, under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code following a complaint. In a petition filed on Friday, Kidangoor stated that the allegations against him were totally "untrue" and the registration of the case was "absolutely unwarranted and illegal." He also claimed that when he declared his candidature for the Advocates Association post, some lawyers targeted him with a campaign to tarnish his reputation. "... the registration of crime no... of the Ernakulam central police station, against the petitioner, is gross abuse of the process of the court and the same is liable to be quashed," th

Kerala HC asks why RBI did not appear despite being served notice

Kerala HC asked why RBI did not appear before it even after being served a notice on pleas challenging the summons issued by ED in connection with its probe into the financial transactions of KIIFB

Kerala HC proposes extending time of worship at Sabarimala to control crowd

Kerala High Court on Sunday proposed an extension of the time of worship for devotees at the Sabarimala temple by an hour on busy days.The Devaswom Bench of the high court mooted the proposal after convening a special sitting on Sunday.The court had asked the Board to consider extending the time of worship after taking suo motu cognisance of a recent rush of devotees at the Sabarimala temple, which left quite a few of them injured.The Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and PG Ajithkumar also dircted the Pathanamthitta district collector and the police to control the crowd at the Sabarimala shrine.The lawyer for the Devaswom board submitted in court that a decision on extending the time of worhsip can only be made after holding consultations with the temple's chief priest, owing to certain ritualistic considerations.The Devaswom Board said bookings are increasing despite attempts made to control the congestion at the temple through virtual queues.The police and the Devaswom Board made .

Ensure law and order during Swiggy partners' strike: Kerala HC to police

The Kerala High Court has directed the State police to ensure that strike by Swiggy delivery partners (DPs) does not affect the law and order situation in the state

If 1 party in Muslim marriage is minor, offence will be under POCSO Act: HC

In his ruling releated to a case, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas said that in a marriage between Muslims, if a minor is there, it cannot be excluded under the Pocso Act.

Actress Sunny Leone moves Kerala HC to quash FIR on contract case

Bollywood actress Sunny Leone has moved the Kerala High Court seeking to quash an FIR filed against her by the crime branch wing of the State police for allegedly breaching terms of a contract supposedly entered into with a firm for a stage performance in Kozhikode four years ago. In her plea, the actress rejected the allegations against her, her husband and their employee. She contended that the charges would not constitute the ingredients of the alleged offences. She claimed they were not involved in any crime till date. She said they were put to untold misery, irreparable loss in making them face what she called a long-drawn process of trial when no material or clear evidence against them has been found. The crime branch is investigating into the case that was registered on a complaint from Shiyas Kunjumohammed, an individual, from Ernakulam district.

Kerala High Court refuses to stay appointment of VC in-charge at KTU

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the appointment of Kerala technical University vice-chancellor in-charge and said the matter will be heard on Friday. Justice Devan Ramachandran refused to stay a plea filed seeking to stay the appointment of Cisa Thomas as the vice-chancellor in-charge of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. While the advocate general told the court that the authority to recommend the name of the vice-chancellor rests with the state government, the Governor's lawyer stated that even temporary appointments can be made only in accordance with the UGC rules and regulations. The court has decided to implead the University Grants Commission in the case. A recent Supreme Court order had quashed the appointment of the vice chancellor of Technological University here for being contrary to University Grants Commission regulations. The Governor later appointed a VC in-charge which was challenged before the court today.

Kerala govt moves HC to cancel advance bail of Congress MLA in rape case

The Kerala government on Friday moved the High Court here seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Congress MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly in a case of rape and attempt to murder. The government, in its plea, is seeking cancellation of the relief granted to him by a sessions court on October 20 by alleging that he is not cooperating with the investigation into the case, a lawyer associated with the matter said. The plea claims that the MLA was threatening witnesses in the case. The government contended that his custodial interrogation was necessary. Two days after he was given the anticipatory bail, the Congress in Kerala suspended him from the KPCC and DCC memberships for six months. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), in a statement, said the explanation provided by the MLA for the allegations against him was not satisfactory and the party has suspended him from the KPCC and District Congress Committee (DCC) memberships for six months. Besides rape and attempt to