#Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court has ruled that merely storing tobacco products at home, even in bulk, cannot trigger criminal liability under Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act unless there is concrete evidence linking the accused to supplying those products to minors. This clarifies the boundary between mere possession and intentional violation, protecting innocent retailers from overbroad prosecution.

Kerala High Court rules that unchallenged oral evidence from co-workers suffices to prove an employer-employee relationship under the Employees' Compensation Act, even without documentary proof. The judgment reinforces workers' compensation claims where employment records are absent or disputed.

The Kerala High Court has upheld the Priyadarshini Scheme granting free bus travel to all women and transgender persons, ruling that Article 15(3) permits broad-based affirmative action even without targeted evidence of disadvantage. This sets a precedent for gender-inclusive public welfare policies that prioritize structural empowerment over narrow proof of deprivation, affecting millions of daily commuters across the state.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that municipal authorities cannot impose fines based on seized materials without first providing the affected party a meaningful opportunity to be heard and substantiate their objections. This sets a critical precedent for all local bodies enforcing administrative penalties, ensuring procedural fairness overrides summary action in regulatory enforcement.