Kerala High Court Issues Notice To Vigilance Director On Plea Challenging Refusal To Probe DGP S Sreejith

The Kerala High Court on Friday (August 21) issued notice to the Director of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on a petition challenging the Government's decision declining, at this stage, to initiate a vigilance investigation into corruption allegations against DGP S. Sreejith, IPS.Justice A. Badharudeen issued notice on the petition moved by an Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector.The petitioner has challenged the Government order dated August 19, which found that a vigilance...

Kerala High Court Impleads Breast Cancer Patient In Suo Motu Case On Exorbitant Pricing Of Patented Drugs

The Kerala High Court on Friday (August 21) allowed the petition filed by a breast cancer patient who sought to be impleaded as an additional respondent in a suo motu plea raising issue of exorbitant pricing of patented breast cancer drugs.The plea was originally filed by a breast cancer patient, who was being treated with patented Ribociclib, seeking an intervention by the Central government invoking the provisions of the Patent Act, particularly Sections 83 and 92 or Section 100. After she...

Kerala High Court Directs State To Establish 3 New NDPS Courts By September 10 To Address High Pendency Of Cases

The Kerala High Court on Friday (August 21) directed the State to establish three new NDPS courts at Thrissur, Palakkad, and Manjeri by September 10.It has also directed the State to engage permanent staff for the newly established NDPS courts in Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram by the said date.The Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran today expressed concern over the delay on the part of the State government in establishing the new courts, taking note of the...

Need Policy For Care Of Children With Chronic Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Kerala High Court Suggests Centre-State Meeting

The Kerala High Court has suggested a joint meeting between the Central and State Governments to formulate a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the care, rehabilitation and palliative support of children with chronic neurodevelopmental disabilities.A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. while hearing public interest litigation observed that both governments are stakeholders in developing an effective policy and implementation...

2003 Muthanga Land Struggle Case: Kerala High Court Suspends Sentences Of Four Convicts

The Kerala High Court on Friday (August 21) suspended the sentences of four persons convicted in connection with the 2003 Muthanga land struggle case, involving a violent clash between police and Adivasi protesters during an eviction drive at the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad.Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order in the criminal appeals fiiled by convicts, challenging their conviction and sentence. The Court had earlier orally expressed concern over the manner in which the Sessions...

'Shocked': Kerala High Court Criticizes Cochin Devaswom Board For Spending ₹28 Lakh Funds On Commissioner's Comforts

The Kerala High Court recently expressed shock over the unauthorised spending of around Rs. 28 lakhs of public money by the Cochin Devaswom Board for the comforts of its Devaswom Commissioner, who bought a new car and other luxuries in violation of government norms and guidelines. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 461].Criticising the Board, the Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice...

Kerala High Court Upholds Infant Vaccination Rule For ₹6,000 Maternity Benefit Under PMMVY Scheme

The Kerala High Court recently upheld the infant vaccination as a condition for lactating mothers to get monetary benefit of Rs. 6000 for second girl child under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Scheme. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 460]Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas referred to Rule 7(2)(ii) of the PMVVY Rules and observed:“it is evident that the benefit of Rs.6,000/- shall be granted to...

Civil Court Lacks Jurisdiction To Try Commercial Dispute Of Specified Value After Designation Of Commercial Courts: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that once notification is issued by the State constituting sub Courts as Commercial Courts for recovery of a specified amount, the Civil Courts cannot proceed to adjudicate the matter on merits.[2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 459]Justice Easwaran S was delivering the judgment in a Regular Second Appeal filed by BRD Finance Ltd. against judgments of the Munsiff Court,...

Kerala High Court Initiates Contempt Against Advocate Mathews Nedumpara For Unauthorisedly Uploading Court Proceedings On YouTube, Bars His Virtual Appearance

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (August 20) issued notice to Advocate Mathews Nedumpara in suo motu criminal contempt proceedings for unauthorisedly recording and uploading court proceedings on his YouTube account.The Court also made it clear that Advocate Nedumpara would not be permitted to virtually participate in court proceedings in the State, until further orders.The Division Bench...

Kerala High Court Issues Notice Before Admission On Plea Alleging 3 Cochin University Senate Nominees Lack Required Qualifications

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (August 20) issued notice before admission on a plea challenging the nomination of 3 persons into the Senate of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued notice to Advocate Kabeer K.K., Anson P. Antony and Abbad Lufti A., whose nomination has been challenged by two former Senate members.The challenge is on...

No Vigilance Probe Against DGP S. Sreejith Warranted As Of Now: Kerala High Court Told

The Additional Chief Secretary Home & Vigilance Department, Minhaj Alam, IAS, informed the Kerala High Court on Thursday (20 August) that no Vigilance Investigation is warranted against DGP S. Sreejith, IPS as of now. The submissions were made before Justice A. Badharudeen who had directed for the personal appearance of the Additional Chief Secretary over the alleged non-compliance with...

Brethren Assembly Hall Is A 'Church' Under Kerala Liquor Rules; Bar Distance Restrictions Apply: High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that an Assembly hall of the Brethren Christian denomination qualifies as a “church” under Rule 13(3) of the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, thereby attracting the statutory distance restriction on grant of bar licences. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 458]A Division Bench of Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John dismissed an appeal filed by Hotel Palace Inn,...