Kerala High Court Case Commentaries

Consistency and Non-Arbitrariness in Granting Permission for Festival Advertisement Boards on Temple Grounds (Kerala High Court, DBA No. 2 of 2026)

Date: Apr 29, 2026

Consistency and Non-Arbitrariness in Granting Permission for Festival Advertisement Boards on Temple Grounds, Subject to Court-Imposed Safeguards 1. Introduction Case: THE TEMPLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE...

Election Commission Approval as a Complete Answer to Election-Period Administrative Impediments to Essential Public Works

Date: Apr 11, 2026

Election Commission Approval as a Complete Answer to Election-Period Administrative Impediments to Essential Public Works 1. Introduction In HIGH COURT OF KERALA v. THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA...

Unattested Alterations in a Will Are Inoperative: Probate Granted Ignoring Post-Execution Corrections Under Section 71

Date: Apr 11, 2026

Unattested Alterations in a Will Are Inoperative: Probate Granted Ignoring Post-Execution Corrections Under Section 71 1. Introduction Case: P. Lakshmikutty Amma v. V.K. Indira (Kerala High Court,...

Judicial Mandate for Performance Audit of Under-Utilised Statutory Tribunals as a Rule-of-Law Obligation

Date: Apr 8, 2026

Judicial Mandate for Performance Audit of Under-Utilised Statutory Tribunals as a Rule-of-Law Obligation Case: K.B.SOMAN, v. STATE OF KERALA (Kerala High Court) Citation: 2026 KER 31431 | Date:...

Continuity and Centrality of the High Power Committee Chair in Time-Bound, Ecologically Compliant Implementation of the Sabarimala Master Plan

Date: Apr 8, 2026

Continuity and Centrality of the High Power Committee Chair in Time-Bound, Ecologically Compliant Implementation of the Sabarimala Master Plan 1. Introduction Case: THE HIGH POWER COMMITTEE FOR THE...

Procedural Dismissal of an Election Petition Consequent to Allowing an Interlocutory Application (IA)

Date: Apr 8, 2026

Procedural Dismissal of an Election Petition Consequent to Allowing an Interlocutory Application (IA) 1. Introduction Joshi Villadom v. Suresh Gopi (2026 KER 30677) was decided by the Kerala High...

Judicial Propriety in Intra-Court Appeals: Interim Orders Should Not Be Interfered With When the Single Judge Is Seised of Their Modification

Date: Apr 2, 2026

Judicial Propriety in Intra-Court Appeals: Interim Orders Should Not Be Interfered With When the Single Judge Is Seised of Their Modification 1. Introduction Case: GOSHREE ISLANDS DEVELOPMENT...

Judicial Deference to the Election Commission on Model Code Violations Involving Plastic/PVC Election Advertisements

Date: Apr 2, 2026

Judicial Deference to the Election Commission on Model Code Violations Involving Plastic/PVC Election Advertisements 1. Introduction Case: HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATIONS v. STATE OF KERALA (2026 KER...

Ordinary Leave Cannot Be Denied Solely on Old Pending Cases or a Generic Law-and-Order Apprehension When Rule 397 Eligibility Is Met

Date: Apr 1, 2026

Ordinary Leave Cannot Be Denied Solely on Old Pending Cases or a Generic Law-and-Order Apprehension When Rule 397 Eligibility Is Met 1. Introduction Suresh v. State of Kerala (2026 KER 28749) was...

Parental Custody via Habeas Corpus: Non‑orphan Children Should Not Be Kept in Orphanage‑type Institutions; Custody Can Be Given to the Father with Structured DCPU Monitoring

Date: Mar 31, 2026

Parental Custody via Habeas Corpus: Non‑orphan Children Should Not Be Kept in Orphanage‑type Institutions; Custody Can Be Given to the Father with Structured DCPU Monitoring Case: SABIN CHRISTOPHER...

Insurer Must “Pay and Recover” Even for a Gratuitous Passenger in a Goods Vehicle (Kerala HC)

Date: Mar 25, 2026

Insurer Must “Pay and Recover” Even for a Gratuitous Passenger in a Goods Vehicle Case: SHAJI v. SOMAN Citation: 2026 KER 26694 (2026:KER:26694) Court: High Court of Kerala (M.B. Snehalatha, J.)...

Competency of Intellectually Disabled Sexual Assault Victims: Voir Dire as the Touchstone; Investigative Omission Not Fatal (S.118 Evidence Act / S.124 BSA)

Date: Mar 4, 2026

Competency of Intellectually Disabled Sexual Assault Victims: Voir Dire as the Touchstone; Investigative Omission Not Fatal (S.118 Evidence Act / S.124 BSA) Introduction Case: Appukuttan v. State of...

Article 21 Speedy Trial as a Constitutional Override to UAPA Bail Embargoes (Including Section 43-D(7) for Non-Citizens) in Cases of Prolonged Incarceration

Date: Feb 25, 2026

Article 21 Speedy Trial as a Constitutional Override to UAPA Bail Embargoes (Including Section 43-D(7) for Non-Citizens) in Cases of Prolonged Incarceration Case: SATKUNAM @ SABESAN (M/A – 49) v....

State Election Commission as Primary Forum for Complaints on Statutory Oath Deviations by Local Body Elected Representatives

Date: Feb 20, 2026

State Election Commission as Primary Forum for Complaints on Statutory Oath Deviations by Local Body Elected Representatives 1. Introduction Case: Sabu Steephen v. State Election Commission (2026 KER...

Mandatory Article 166(3) Rules-of-Business Compliance for Public Expenditure: Misallocation of “Special PR Campaign” Funds and Ultra Vires Departmental Nodalisation Quashed

Date: Feb 19, 2026

Mandatory Article 166(3) Rules-of-Business Compliance for Public Expenditure: Misallocation of “Special PR Campaign” Funds and Ultra Vires Departmental Nodalisation Quashed Case: MUBAS M.H, v. THE...

Refusal to Accept a Resignation (Especially of a Statutory Company Secretary) Can Amount to Bonded Labour Under Article 23

Date: Feb 19, 2026

Refusal to Accept a Resignation (Especially of a Statutory Company Secretary) Can Amount to Bonded Labour Under Article 23 Case: GREEVAS JOB PANAKKAL v. TRACO CABLE COMPANY LIMITED Citation: 2026 KER...

Written Grounds of Arrest under BNSS: Specific, Accused-Centric Allegations Suffice; Remand-Copy Non-supply Not Fatal When Grounds Are Independently Served

Date: Feb 19, 2026

Written Grounds of Arrest under BNSS: Specific, Accused-Centric Allegations Suffice; Remand-Copy Non-supply Not Fatal When Grounds Are Independently Served 1) Introduction PANKAJ BHANDARI v. STATE OF...

Single-Complaint Prosecution for Multiple Dishonoured Cheques When They Form the “Same Transaction” Under Section 220 CrPC

Date: Feb 19, 2026

Single-Complaint Prosecution for Multiple Dishonoured Cheques When They Form the “Same Transaction” Under Section 220 CrPC Case: BALACHANDRAN v. SAJAN MATHEW Citation: 2026 KER 13892 Court: High...

Nishad v. Mumthaz Beegum (2026 KER 13291) — In-Law Liability Requires Specific Proof in Matrimonial Gold/Money Return Claims

Date: Feb 17, 2026

In-Law Liability Requires Specific Proof: Entrustment of Bridal Gold May Be Inferred, but Misappropriation Cannot Be Presumed Against Relatives 1. Introduction Nishad v. Mumthaz Beegum (2026 KER...

Loans Outside a Co-operative Bank’s Service Area Are Not Per Se Criminal: Quashment Absent Loss, Misappropriation, or Illegal Pecuniary Advantage

Date: Feb 14, 2026

Loans Outside a Co-operative Bank’s Service Area Are Not Per Se Criminal: Quashment Absent Loss, Misappropriation, or Illegal Pecuniary Advantage 1) Introduction Case: LUCY KURIAKOSE v. STATE OF...