Kerala High Court Restrains Authorities From Handing Over Viral Kumbh Mela Star To MP Police Without Court Orders

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (July 28) directed the State government to ensure that the viral Kumbh Mela star is not taken out of the jurisidictional limits of Cochin city against her will and without its further orders.Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, thus, effectively barred the Kerala Police from handing her over to the Madhya Pradesh Police without the Court's permission, after being...

Husband's Failure To Pay Maintenance Is Economic Abuse Constituting Domestic Violence: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a husband's failure to pay maintenance to his wife and child constitutes economic abuse amounting to domestic violence under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.Justice Jobin Sebastian made the observation while dismissing a criminal revision petition filed by a husband challenging concurrent orders directing him to pay maintenance to...

'Grossly Unholy Practice In A Holy Place': Kerala High Court Backs TDB Decision To End Officers Acting As Suppliers In Sabarimala

The Kerala High Court recently closed suo motu proceedings concerning the procurement of pooja materials for Sabarimala rituals after the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) decision to end the long-standing practice of Administrative Officers procuring Vazhipadu (offerings) materials. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 400]Calling the arrangement a "grossly unholy practice in a holy place", the Court...

No Iron Chains, RO Water, CCTV Monitoring: Kerala High Court Issues Interim Directions For Welfare Of Guruvayur Temple Elephants

The Kerala High Court recently passed an interim order giving a slew of directions to the Guruvayur Devaswom Managing Committee (GDMC) for ensuring the welfare of 39 elephants, which are presently at Punnathur Anakkotta in Thrissur District.Punnathur Anakkotta is owned by the Guruvayur Devaswom, and it houses the Devaswom's elephants, which are dedicated for temple rituals and...

LiveLaw Kerala High Court Weekly Round-Up: July 20 - July 26, 2026

Citations: 2026 : LiveLaw (Ker) 383 - 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 396Nominal IndexDr. Manoj T.R. v. University of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 383Shiny S Nair v State of Kerala and Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 384Geetha v State Police Chief and connected matters, 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 385Aboobacker v State of Kerala and Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 386Dilha Jan Govindan v. State Bank of India and Ors....

Persons From Diverse Fields Can Judge Television Awards, 'Visual Arts' Can't Be Construed Narrowly: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that the expression "persons distinguished in the field of visual arts" under the Regulations governing the Kerala State Television Awards, 2022, must receive a broad, contextual interpretation and cannot be confined to its dictionary meaning, observing that the Government must have flexibility in constituting award juries. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 398]Justice...

Married Life Must Be Reviewed As A Whole; Few Isolated Incidents Over The Years Don't Constitute Mental Cruelty: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court, in a recent decision, observed that married life must be reviewed as a whole and that a few instances would not amount to cruelty. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 397]The Division Bench of Dr. Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Preeta A.K. made the observation while dismissing a matrimonial appeal preferred by a husband challenging the dismissal of his divorce...

After Personally Inspecting Thiruvananthapuram Mental Health Centre, Kerala High Court Flags 'Prison-Like' Conditions, Orders Urgent Reforms

The Kerala High Court recently passed an order directing the State government to take measures to improve the Mental Health Centre at Thiruvananthapuram after flagging certain issues during its recent visit to the establishment.The Division Bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji inspected the Centre last Saturday (July 18) along with amicus curiae Advocate V....

Kerala High Court Vacates Stay On TV Rating Policy Clause Against Counting Of Viewership From Landing Page

The Kerala High Court on Friday (July 14) vacated its interim order staying the provision that says viewership arising out of Landing Page shall not be counted in the viewership measurement and Landing Page can be used only as a marketing tool.The Landing Page is the specific channel that gets displayed when a subscriber activates the set top box. It is activated by default and is not viewed...

Repeated Property Offences Like Theft, Trespass Can Justify Preventive Detention As They Affect Public Order: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently observed that repeated offences involving theft, house-breaking, and lurking house trespass could create fear and insecurity among the public, thereby affecting public order within the meaning of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 (KAAPA). [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 395]A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam...

'Best Left Ignored': Kerala High Court Refuses Contempt Action Against Lawyer Who Said Judge Made Unnecessary Comments For Popularity

The Kerala High Court recently refused to take contempt action against a lawyer, who participated in a channel discussion and said that a judge made unnecessary comments to attract media attention and to become popular. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 396]The Division Bench of Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V. and Justice K.V. Jayakumar observed:“On going through the objectionable statement, what we find...

'Situation Very Pathetic': Kerala High Court Flags Pattern Of Police Not Communicating Grounds Of Arrest, Enabling Accused To Secure Release

The Kerala High Court on Friday (July 24) expressed concern over recurring cases of investigating officers failing to communicate the grounds of arrest in the manner mandated by law, ultimately enabling accused persons to secure release.Justice A. Badharudeen made the observations while hearing the case relating to the alleged suicide of dental student Nithin Raj.The Court previously...