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Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Illegal flags and boards: Audit plaints received through K-Smart app, Kerala HC tells LSGI secretary
Kochi: High court has directed the local self-govt institutions (LSGI) secretary to conduct an audit of complaints received through the 'K-Smart' application regarding the placing of unauthorised boards, flags and similar materials across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the directive while considering a 2018 petition seeking judicial intervention against the illegal erection of boards, banners, flags and festoons in public spaces. The bench had earlier disposed of the petition on March 13, directing secretaries of local self-govt institutions to strictly enforce the court's orders and relevant state govt circulars to curb the menace. A compliance report was also ordered. However, the amicus curiae informed HC that complaints lodged through the 'K-Smart' application were not being properly accounted for or acted upon. Taking serious note of this, the court directed the LSGI secretary to audit the complaints received on 'K-Smart' since the date of the judgment and submit a report by June 6 detailing the number of complaints received, action taken, fines collected, FIRs registered and officers responsible. The amicus curiae also highlighted that, although the Thiruvananthapuram corporation had recently removed a large number of unauthorised boards, many still remained. The corporation's standing counsel confirmed that over 4,500 boards had been removed about a week ago and that further removal was in progress. The court remarked that the issue can be effectively tackled only through the imposition of fines and the initiation of criminal proceedings. It also sought a detailed report from the corporation secretary on the matter.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MG Road footpaths: HC calls for swift fix
Kochi: High court on Thursday sought an immediate response from state govt on when the restoration of footpaths along MG Road in Kochi will begin. A bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran was hearing petitions concerning the poor condition of roads in Kochi. Court observed that flooding along MG Road is particularly severe in sections where footpaths are damaged. This, it said, is due in part to ineffective cleaning of drains and rampant waste dumping. Court stressed that restoring footpaths and drainage system is an urgent need, and simply removing and replacing slabs is an inadequate, temporary solution. In response, senior govt pleader appearing for PWD requested a few days to seek instructions from the state. It was submitted that govt is seriously considering footpath restoration and is currently reviewing a proposal that may exceed Rs 16 crore due to cost escalation. Court also noted that damaged tiles and bollards on Banerji Road footpath remain unrepaired. However, counsel for Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) assured court that all restoration works there would be completed within 10 days. Court recorded this assurance and posted the matter for further hearing next Thursday.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kerala high court slams Kochi corp for slow drain desilting efforts
Kochi: A high court bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran on Friday strongly criticised the Kochi corporation for the sluggish progress of pre-monsoon works, particularly desilting efforts, in Kochi city. After perusing the status report filed by corporation's counsel, HC observed that in most areas, the desilting of drains remained incomplete. The report indicated that more than 50% of the work had been completed in only a few locations, while in most places the progress was limited to around 30%. HC expressed strong displeasure, remarking that the corporation was wasting public funds by carrying out desilting during monsoon. "Here, the magic happened — the money has also gone down the drain. Of course, it flows not into the Arabian Sea, but into somebody's pocket," the court said. HC noted that although Rs 7.44 lakh had been estimated for desilting small drains in Vyttila, no work had been completed. Similarly, in Fort Kochi, only 20-40% of the work had been done. The bench reminded that these were public funds and reiterated that desilting should have been initiated in Jan or Feb and completed by May 15 at the latest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tired of High Power Bills? Plug in This Device elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo If the city floods during this monsoon, every officer responsible would be held accountable, it warned. The court directed the corporation to execute the remaining work on a war footing and file an additional report by Thursday. Meanwhile, the PWD's counsel informed HC that the footpath restoration work on MG Road would be completed by June 30. He also stated that the state govt might approve a proposal for full restoration at an estimated cost of Rs 14-15 crore and sought time for confirmation. The court underscored the importance of restoring the MG Road footpath and made it clear that it would not countenance any excuse from the state or other stakeholders, including the plea of insufficient funds. The counsel for Cochin Smart Mission Ltd (CSML) submitted that the restoration of tiles on the footpaths has been substantially completed and assured that the remaining work would be finished by the next posting date. The counsel added that in several locations, including near St Albert's College, tiles and bollards had been dislodged due to human interference. The court observed that once the restoration is completed, it would be the responsibility of the Kochi corporation to ensure their proper maintenance. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
01-05-2025
- India Today
Wedding gold woman's property, must be returned after divorce: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has ruled that gold ornaments and cash gifted to a bride at the time of wedding are to be treated as her exclusive property or 'Streedhan', reaffirming the legal right of women over such possessions. The division bench comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and MB Snehalatha delivered the verdict, while allowing a petition by a woman from Kalamassery, Ernakulam. She had challenged a family court decision that had denied her claim for return of gifts and ornaments following divorce court observed that 'unfortunately there are numerous cases where such valuable possessions are misappropriated by husband or in-laws.''Due to the private and often informal nature of such transfers, it becomes merely impossible for women to produce documentary evidence proving ownership or misappropriations. In such a situation the courts have to rely on the principle of preponderance of probabilities to deliver justice.' The bench noted that insisting on rigid legal proof would be unrealistic in such matters, especially given the personal and undocumented nature of wedding petitioner had contended that she was given 63 sovereigns of gold and a two-sovereign chain by her family at the time of marriage in 2010, along with an additional six sovereigns of gold gifted by relatives. However, she alleged that except for the mangalsutra, a bangle, and two rings used regularly, all the ornaments were taken to her parents-in-law's room under the pretext of safekeeping. The relationship later soured over the alleged non-payment of an additional Rs 5 lakh demanded by her woman substantiated her claim by presenting documents that showed the gold had been purchased with money her parents had deposited in a fixed deposit. The high court, after reviewing the case, directed that 59.5 sovereigns of gold, or its current market value, be returned to the petitioner by her court, however, noted that she was unable to provide proof regarding the additional six sovereigns of gold said to have been given by her relatives, and therefore rejected that portion of her claim. Similarly, her plea for the return of certain household articles was denied due to a lack of evidence regarding their the broader implications of such cases, the court observed that gold given to a bride at the time of marriage is often retained by the husband or his family under the guise of safekeeping or as part of family customs. In most instances, the woman does not receive a written record or receipt for these transfers, and her access to the ornaments can be restricted. This becomes especially problematic when disputes arise; such as in cases of domestic violence, dowry harassment, or divorce, where the woman may claim that her jewellery was misused or never returned.'The woman rarely gets a written record or receipt for such transfers and the woman's access to her own ornaments can be restricted. When disputes arise, especially in cases of domestic violence, dowry harassment or divorce, the woman may claim that her gold ornaments have been misused or never returned. However, since she seldom receives the list or acknowledgment of the items given to her, proving ownership becomes difficult. Courts have to understand this practical difficulty and cannot insist on rigid legal proof as in criminal cases,' the court Watch IN THIS STORY#Kerala
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Kerala high court stresses need to ensure dignity and privacy of children in custody battle
Kochi: Children should be summoned to the court with great caution, and in such instances, every effort must be made to ensure they are treated with utmost dignity and privacy, and are not made to wait unnecessarily, Kerala high court has held. A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha made the ruling while considering a petition by the mother of a nine-year-old boy challenging a family court order , which altered its previous order and granted the custody of the child to his father. After being summoned, the boy showed extreme unwillingness to leave his mother, and he explained that he abhors going to the courts and further that he even 'hates' the court for having 'summoned' him again. Additionally, he stated that he feels dehumanised and stigmatised, being paraded in front of people as a virtual chattel in a dispute between his parents. The bench directed that when it comes to the place of exchange of the child for interim or final custody, the use of court premises be avoided, unless exceptional reason is recorded; and a neutral place be thought of since this will, to a large extent, reduce the strain of the children and their fear, which they unfortunately endure on account of being forced to submit themselves to processes, over which they have no control on and which they did not seek. The court further noted that the child appears to be more terrified and agonised, not on account of the proceedings between his parents, but because he has been caught in between and has been forced to appear in courts. The records of the boy reveal that he is suffering from 'attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder' (ADHD), and that he is obtaining professional assistance for the same. In addition to this, the trauma and stigmatisation that he had to endure all these years have made his condition tenuous and very sad. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The bench additionally noted that it is a classic example of the harrowing and torturous trauma that a child suffers when his parents are litigating over his custody. "His tears that rolled down his cheeks; the call for deliverance which he made before us in his innocent tenor; and his remonstrance in being called into courts, to be dehumanised every time, surely, requires us to sit up and take notice," HC said. Subsequently, the bench quashed the impugned order of the family court, which altered its earlier directives.
