High Court
Kerala High Court
Ernakulam
The Kerala High Court was established in 1956. It has jurisdiction over the state of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
905+
News & Updates Published
Order
S.53A Abkari Act | Violation Of Procedure For Drawing Samples Of Contraband Vitiates Prosecution: Kerala High Court
In a significant ruling under the Abkari Act, the Kerala High Court has acquitted a man who was earlier sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment by the IV Additional Sessions Court, Thodupuzha. The High Court found that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused had ownership or possession of the property…
Order
Former Minister A Neelalohithadasan Nadar Acquitted In 2001 Sexual Harassment Case: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has acquitted former Forest Minister Dr A Neelalohithadasan Nadar in a sexual harassment case filed in 2001, ruling that the conviction rendered by the trial and appellate courts could not be sustained due to lack of strong corroborative evidence. The decision came in the matter of Dr A…
Order
Income Of Parent Who Abandoned Family Need Not Be Considered For EWS Reservation: Kerala High Court
The High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam, comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar, initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, against individuals and directors associated with Karma News, a Malayalam web-based news channel. The proceedings arose…
Order
S.482 BNSS | Anticipatory Bail Applications Maintainable Before HC Even If Parties Did Not Approach Sessions Court First: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court, in a detailed judgment involving interpretation of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), has clarified that applications for anticipatory bail can be filed directly before the High Court without first approaching the Sessions Court. This comes amidst ongoing legal debate…
Order
Facilitate Temple Darshan For Persons With Disabilities, Consider Fixing Specific Days/Time Slots: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court, in a landmark judgment under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, issued a set of mandatory directions to four major Devaswom Boards in the state to facilitate temple darshan for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The judgment was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice…
Order
Verdict Deferred In Criminal Case As Magistrate Fails To Provide Copy Of Order Rejecting Accused's Plea To Reopen Evidence: Kerala High Court
In a key development under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the Kerala High Court has intervened in a cheque dishonour case by directing a Magistrate Court to defer the pronouncement of judgment for two weeks. The order came after it was found that the Magistrate had posted the matter for final judgment the very…
Order
Universities Must Guard Education, Not Be Derailed by Political Considerations: Kerala High Court
In a significant judgment reinforcing the independence of academic institutions, the Kerala High Court has held that universities must be governed only by academic considerations and should not allow their functioning to be derailed by political or other extraneous factors. This observation was made while dismissing a…
Order
Person Availing Services of Sex Worker 'Induces Prostitution', Can Be Prosecuted Under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act: Kerala High Court
A major judgment was delivered by the Kerala High Court on 21st July 2025 in the case involving Sarath Chandran, a 34-year-old resident of Thiruvananthapuram, who was the 3rd accused in Crime No.331/2021 registered at Peroorkada Police Station. The case was registered under various provisions of the Immoral Traffic…
Order
Chinese Loan App Scam: Kerala High Court Grants Bail to Third Accused Citing Non-Furnishing of Grounds of Arrest to His Relative: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, granted regular bail to Anto Paul Prakash, the third accused in the alleged Chinese Loan App scam case. He was arrested on January 30, 2025, and had been in custody since that date. The case involves offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as well as…
Order
Post Office Can Forfeit Interest on Excess PPF Contribution Made by Guardian in Minors' Accounts Even After They Attain Majority: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court, in a significant ruling under the Public Provident Fund Scheme, 1968, has held that the post office is legally entitled to forfeit interest accrued on contributions made in excess of permissible limits to minor’s PPF accounts. The judgment was passed by a Division Bench comprising Justice…
Order
Fashion Gold Scam: Bail Granted to Ex-MLA Kamarudheen and Another Accused of Siphoning Over ₹20 Crore: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court on September 9, 2025, granted regular bail to former MLA M.C. Kamarudheen and his associate T.K. Pookoya Thangal, in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, involving alleged siphoning of over Rs. 20 crores from investors. The Court found no strong prima facie…
![[Article 226] Writ Courts Can't Direct Banks to Not Cancel One Time Settlement Facility Granted to Customers: Kerala High Court](https://law4u.in/newsImage-location/newsImage6197.webp)
Order
[Article 226] Writ Courts Can't Direct Banks to Not Cancel One Time Settlement Facility Granted to Customers: Kerala High Court
In a recent decision, the Kerala High Court ruled that a party cannot seek a writ under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to direct a bank not to cancel the One Time Settlement (OTS) facility granted to it. The court clarified that writ jurisdiction is not the appropriate remedy for issues arising from the…
Judgment
Preventive Detention of BJP Councillor Sugathan R Quashed Over Procedural Lapses Under KAAPA: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has set aside the preventive detention of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation Councillor Sugathan R under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 2007 (KAAPA), finding serious procedural lapses in the detention process. The petition was filed by his wife, Aswathi G R, challenging…
Judgment
Disability Does Not Extinguish Husband’s Duty to Maintain Wife, Kerala HC Upholds ₹10,000 Monthly Maintenance: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed R.P.F.C. No. 122 of 2024 and upheld an order directing the petitioner to pay ₹10,000 per month as maintenance to the respondent. The case arose from M.C. No. 137 of 2019 before the Family Court, Kottayam at Ettumanoor. The petitioner and respondent married on 1 August 2015. It was…
Judgment
YouTuber Thoppi Granted Anticipatory Bail, Kerala High Court Notes No Obscene or Sexually Coloured Remarks Were Directly Made by Him: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Muhammed Nihad @ Thoppi in a case registered by Manjeri Police in Malappuram district over alleged objectionable remarks and the unauthorised display of a woman's photographs and videos during a YouTube livestream. The order was passed by Justice Dr. Kauser…
Judgment
Bar Council Directed to Update List of Advocates Who Have Not Cleared AIBE Since 2021: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has directed the Bar Council of Kerala to update its list of advocates from 2021 onwards in relation to compliance with the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The direction was issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. on 23rd September, 2026. The…
Judgment
Domestic Violence Case Cannot Be Quashed Merely Due to Delay: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Mathews Wilson and Gracy Wilson, seeking to quash proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 pending before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-III, Thrissur. Mathews Wilson, aged 43, is the husband of Anu Mol, aged 38, while…
Judgment
Consensual Relationship Cannot Constitute an Offence Due to Failed Promise of Marriage, FIR Quashed: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court considered a case involving Zahid Shanavas, who was the sole accused in Crime No. 219 of 2026 of Vazhakkulam Police Station, Ernakulam. The case concerned allegations that he had sexual intercourse with the de facto complainant after promising to marry her and later asked her to abort a child…
Judgment
Married Woman Voluntarily Accompanying Man to Hotel Cannot Claim Sexual Relationship Was Induced by Promise of Marriage: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court at Ernakulam has quashed an FIR and all further proceedings against Habibur Rahman, the sole accused in a case registered at Kovalam Police Station. The case alleged that he promised to marry the de facto complainant, took her to a hotel on 3 November 2025, and had sexual intercourse with her…
Judgment
Love Relationship Has No Relevance When Victim Is a Minor, 10-Year POCSO Sentence Upheld: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed the criminal appeal filed by Reji and upheld his conviction and sentence in a case involving the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl. Justice A. Badharudeen delivered the judgment on September 1, 2026, holding that an alleged love relationship or consensual sexual activity has no…
Judgment
NIA Cannot Recover Salary Paid to Public Prosecutor During Deputation Based on Subsequent Pay Re-Fixation: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has delivered a significant verdict stating that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) cannot recover salary paid to a Public Prosecutor during his deputation period based on a subsequent pay re-fixation. The court observed that the pay fixed at the time of deputation and the subsequent…
Judgment
Christian Women Allowed to File Divorce Cases Where They Currently Reside: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has held that a Christian wife seeking dissolution of marriage can file her divorce petition before the District Court or Family Court having jurisdiction over the place where she is residing when the petition is filed. The Court clarified that this remains possible even if the marriage was…
Judgment
Reporting an Official Arrest Without Defamatory Intent Cannot Attract Criminal Case: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has quashed criminal defamation proceedings against the Chief Editor, Editor and Reporter of Malayala Manorama, holding that merely reporting an official arrest on the basis of an official occurrence report does not automatically amount to criminal defamation. The Court emphasised that the…
Judgment
Placing a Vibrating Device on a Minor Victim's Vaginal Opening Constitutes Penetrative Sexual Assault: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by a man convicted of sexually assaulting a minor girl in Ernakulam in 2019. The court confirmed the 10-year rigorous imprisonment awarded by the Fast Track Special Court, Perumbavoor, and upheld the conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences…
Order
FIR Ordered Against Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena Thaikkandiyil and Mohammed Riyas in CMRL-Exalogic Case: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court on October 9, 2026, directed the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register an FIR in the CMRL-Exalogic case involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Thaikkandiyil and his son-in-law Mohammed Riyas. Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order on a…
Order
Alleged Elbow Hit on Woman’s Chest Insufficient to Establish Intent to Outrage Modesty, Man Acquitted: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has acquitted Rajendran in a molestation case dating back to 2002, setting aside his conviction and sentence under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Justice Jobin Sebastian passed the order on September 30, 2026, while allowing Criminal Revision Petition No. 481 of 2007. The case arose…
Order
Police Directed to Strictly Enforce Public Smoking Ban and Conduct Awareness on Passive Smoking: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has disposed of a public interest litigation seeking strict enforcement of the legal ban on smoking in public places across Kerala. The petition was filed by Prof. Monamma Kokkad in WP(PIL) No. 195 of 2026, decided on October 7, 2026. The petitioner argued that directions issued by the High Court…
Order
Notaries Act Protection Unavailable for Forged Attestation in Signatory’s Absence: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition filed by P. Imbichi Koya, a 67-year-old advocate and Kerala State Notary, seeking to quash criminal proceedings against him in a vigilance case involving an allegedly forged consent letter linked to a building permit. Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order on September…
Order
498A Case Against In-Laws Retained Over Allegations of Calling Daughter-in-Law a ‘Servant’ and ‘Cancer in Their Life’: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Sreejith MS, the fourth accused in a matrimonial cruelty case, while refusing to end the case against his parents, Sasi MR and Shantha P.A. The order was passed by Justice G. Girish on 5 October 2026. The case arose from Crime No.64/2022 of Chottanikkara…
Order
20-Year Jail Term Upheld for Man Convicted of Repeated Sexual Assault on 12-Year-Old Niece: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a criminal appeal challenging the conviction and sentence of the accused in a POCSO case tried by the Fast Track Special Court, Wadakkanchery. The case arose from Crime No. 977/2021 of Pazhayannur Police Station, Thrissur. The accused was convicted by the Special Court on 25.06.2024…
Order
Wife Declared Exclusive Owner of Jointly Registered Property, Husband Directed to Vacate House Within Three Months: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has declared Raslin the exclusive owner of a 2.8 Ares (7 cents) property and the building standing on it, in a matrimonial dispute involving her husband Shamsheer Kurudan Candy. The judgment was delivered on 26 September 2026 in Mat.Appeal Nos.84 and 581 of 2022. Raslin had claimed that her…
Order
Mere Relationship With Husband’s Family Insufficient for Domestic Violence Proceedings Without Proof of Shared Household: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has quashed proceedings under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 against two persons who were arrayed as the fourth and fifth respondents in a domestic violence case before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-IV, Kozhikode. The petitioners, who were the brother-in-law…
Order
Flag Insult Case Against Lakshadweep Man Quashed, Accidental Display of 'Saffron Down' Without Intent Not an Offence: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Mohammed Kasim H.K., who was accused of insulting the Indian National Flag by sharing a photograph in which the saffron band appeared at the bottom. Justice A. Badharudeen held that the prosecution material did not indicate that the flag had been displayed…
Order
Section 233 BNSS Applies Only to the Same Offence, Cheating Case Not Stayed Pending Forest Investigation: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Roji Augustine, the first accused in Crl.M.C. No. 7404 of 2026, seeking to stay proceedings in C.C. No. 456 of 2022 until the final report was filed in O.R. No. 1 of 2021. The case arose from a timber transaction involving Rs.1.40 crore. According to the order,…
Order
Lawyer Cannot Swear Plaintiff’s Affidavit on Facts Beyond Personal Knowledge: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has set aside an order of the Munsiff Court, Chittur, allowing the production of additional documents in a partition suit after finding that the plaintiff's lawyer had sworn an affidavit beyond his personal knowledge. Justice Easwaran S. delivered the judgment on September 10, 2026, in O.P(C)…
Order
John Doe Suits Cannot Be Blocked by Procedural Technicalities When Defendants Are Unknown: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has directed the Principal Munsiff Court, Ernakulam, to number a suit filed by M/s Cubes Entertainments over an online review of the film “Kattalan”. The order was passed on 14 September 2026 by Justice Easwaran S. in OP(C) No. 2655 of 2026. The petition challenged the refusal of the Munsiff…
Delay in Challenging Family Court Orders in Matrimonial Disputes Can Be Fatal as Parties May Alter Their Marital Status: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has observed that delay in challenging orders passed by Family Courts in matrimonial disputes, particularly in matters relating to dissolution of marriage, can be fatal because parties may alter their marital status after the expiry of the appeal period. The Court emphasized that great care and…
About the Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court was established in 1956. It has jurisdiction over the state of Kerala and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
Seat
Ernakulam
State / UT
Kerala
Region
South India
