Proceedings at Kerala HC adjourned due to stench left behind by palm civets
A staff member in the HC's registrar general's office, who did not want to be named, said the division bench headed by the chief justice rose within half an hour of sitting on Tuesday morning due to the strong stench.
'Apparently, the palm civet had urinated in court number 1, where the CJ hears matters, resulting in the stench. After hearing urgent matters, all other proceedings were adjourned for the day,' the official told HT.
'Cleaning of the air conditioning ducts and crevices in the ceiling, through which the palm civet probably entered the court room, is on,' he said.
The high court officials confirmed that a palm civet had been captured by forest officials early Tuesday.
Also known as the Asian palm civet, the mammal is believed to have strayed into the HC premises from the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary located behind the court.
Also Read: Wildbuzz: Spooked by strangers
Around 2.74 hectares in area, the mangrove is located in the heart of Kochi and is routinely visited by migratory birds.
The Asian palm civet, widely found in south and southeast Asia, is known to be most active between night and dawn. It is an omnivore and feeds mostly on fruits and berries and occasionally small mammals and insects. It is known for its ability to adapt to all kinds of habitats.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt can't recover AC bill without due process: HC
Ahmedabad: Gujarat high court has scrapped a govt order to recover from a retired lecturer the power bill for the use of an air conditioner for a decade in her chamber in a govt polytechnic in Ahmedabad. While quashing the recovery order, the HC slammed the authorities for their attempt to recover money from the lecturer for the installation of the AC without any evidence of its usage and without following any procedure. In this case, in 2017, the commissioner of technical education sought recovery from 11 faculty members of the govt polytechnic for using air conditioners in their chambers without authorisation. The lady lecturer was one of them and was asked to pay Rs 53,562 towards the power bill for AC usage from 2002 to 2012. The amount was later revised to Rs 1.77 lakh. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Gold Rates Today in Ahmedabad | Silver Rates Today in Ahmedabad While 10 faculty members paid the amounts, the lady lecturer approached the HC challenging the recovery. She argued that she was never informed that she was not entitled to use the AC based on her pay scale. She submitted that the air conditioner was already installed in her chamber when she occupied it and that no evidence was presented to prove she installed or misused it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo She also contended that she was never asked anything before the authority issued the recovery order, and that too five years later in 2017. After hearing the case, Justice Nikhil Kariel stated that in passing the recovery order to the employees, the authority "was required to follow a reasonable process in accordance with the extant policies of the State Government." The authority did not follow any prescribed procedure, nor was the employee provided with an opportunity to explain. The court stated, "The respondents are not able to point out that during her service tenure between the year 2002 to 2012, the petitioner was intimated not to use the air conditioner as she was not entitled." The court also said that there was no evidence with the authority to show that the faculty member actually utilised or misused the AC. As Shah retired on July 30, the HC restrained authorities from taking any other step in this regard. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Siddique challenges arrest in land grab cases, seeks release
Panaji: Land grab accused Suleman Mohammed Khan, also known as Siddique , filed a petition in the high court challenging his arrest in the four FIRs registered against him at the Mapusa, Valpoi and Old Goa police stations as illegal, and seeking his release. The last FIR against him pertains to alleged land-grabbing and escape from custody. He submitted to the HC that he was illegally detained in custody despite no prima facie evidence justifying the necessity for his continued detention. Through his lawyer Sahil Sardessai, he submitted that his continued custody was grossly unlawful as the initial arrest was in violation of the constitutional mandate under Article 22 (1) and statutory rights guaranteed to him. The 54-year-old is seeking a declaration of his arrest as illegal and quashing of the subsequent remand orders in the four FIRs pertaining to him. He submitted to the HC that the authorities failed to comply with constitutional and statutory safeguards and did not communicate the grounds of arrest to him. The FIRs against him were registered between 2020 and 2024. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
HC drops contempt proceedings against officer after govt complies with order
Cuttack: Orissa high court on Tuesday dropped contempt proceedings against additional chief secretary (home), Satyabrata Sahu, for non-compliance of its directive issued on March 28, 2024 to provide a compensation of Rs 5 lakh in a 2015 custodial death case, after the state govt informed that it had complied with the order. Petitioner's counsel, Prabir Kumar Das, also informed the bench of Justice S K Panigrahi that the legal heirs of the deceased — Makhunu Bag of Dekulba village in Bargarh district — had received the compensation amount on Monday. The contempt petition was filed by Biju Bag, 28, younger son of Makhunu, in March, alleging that the state had failed to comply with the HC's compensation order. The court had earlier warned that Sahu must appear via virtual mode on Aug 19 if the amount was not paid by then. Makhunu had gone missing on July 17, 2015, after visiting Bheden police station to inquire about the whereabouts of his son. More than two months later, on Sept 24, his skeletal remains were recovered from Panichhapar jungle in Sonepur district. His identity was confirmed by both family members and through DNA test. Subsequent police investigation led to the arrest of several personnel, including the officer-in-charge of Bheden police station, on murder charges. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Benefits of Trading Bitcoin CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo The case is pending before the trial court. Initially, Biju had sought a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for his father's alleged custodial death. In its March 2024 ruling, the HC directed the state to pay Rs 5 lakh to Makhunu's legal heirs. "Though the younger son of the deceased is the only claimant in this writ petition, in the interest of justice and to mitigate the hardship faced by the widow, two young sons, and his ageing mother, this court deems it fit to award compensation of Rs 5 lakh," the court ordered. State govt later sought clarification, contending that the victim's family had already received Rs 7.5 lakh as ex gratia, and the Rs 5 lakh should be considered inclusive. However, the HC, in a July 23, 2024 order, made it clear that the Rs 5 lakh was to be paid "over and above" the earlier amount. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
