Latest news with #DevanRamachandran
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Explain steps planned to remove illegal boards and flags from KSRTC bus stands: Kerala HC to state govt
Kochi: High court has asked the state govt to inform the steps proposed to implement the court's order against the placement of illegal boards and flags within KSRTC bus station premises and other areas owned by the corporation. Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the directive while considering a report filed by Adv Harish Vasudevan, the amicus curiae appointed by HC in petitions seeking action against illegal boards, flags and festoons on public roads and footpaths. The report detailed the present condition of various KSRTC bus stations, including photographs showing illegal boards and flags placed on the premises in connection with the KSRTC referendum. The report further stated that KSRTC has not taken any action to remove the illegal flags, festoons, banners, hoardings, or flex boards from its premises. Vasudevan specifically cited the condition of the KSRTC bus station in Ernakulam, which is flooded with flags and festoons of various political parties. Additionally, the amicus curiae pointed out that although transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar had publicly welcomed HC's judgment banning illegal boards, banners, flags and festoons in public spaces, the order is yet to be implemented by the govt and its agencies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Accordingly, the bench asked the state govt to detail the steps it intends to take to implement HC's order with respect to KSRTC bus station premises. The counsel for KSRTC sought additional time to file a response, and HC adjourned the matter to Thursday.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala HC stresses need for Periyar protection authority
Kochi: High court has directed the state govt to act urgently on its earlier suggestion to establish an authority for protecting the Periyar River from pollution. The bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha issued the directive while hearing a batch of petitions related to the mass fish deaths in Periyar caused by pollution — an incident that occurred on 20 May 2024. During a previous hearing, the bench had itself mooted the idea of creating a dedicated authority for the protection of Periyar. In the latest proceedings, the court observed that the matter demands urgent attention, especially since many people — including the elderly and young children — depend on the river for drinking water and are consequently exposed to pollutants, making them vulnerable to serious illnesses. The petitions have been adjourned to July 7. In its earlier suggestion, the court noted that no better alternative exists, particularly when immediate and sustained action is needed for the river's maintenance and rejuvenation. Counsel for one of the petitioners also referred to international models such as China's 'River Chief System', Singapore's 'Public Utilities Board', and India's 'National Ganga River Basin Authority' as prototypes for establishing a unified body for Periyar.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kerala HC slams CBI for reluctance to take up missing person case
Kochi: High court on Wednesday rebuked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its unwillingness to take over a missing person case, citing the agency's contention that the disappearance of the young man did not have any 'national importance'. The bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M B Snehalatha was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by K J Antony to trace his 20-year-old son, Adam Joe Antony, a Chartered Accountancy student from Palluruthy in Kochi, who went missing on July 28, 2024. According to police, Adam had left home for a morning cycling routine around 3.45am on the said date and never returned. Despite the formation of a special investigation team as per the HC's earlier directive, no breakthrough has been achieved thus far. Consequently, the court had sought instructions from the CBI. On Wednesday, CBI's senior counsel informed court that the agency was unable to take over the investigation due to manpower constraints. It was also submitted that the CBI is primarily mandated to investigate cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and that even in the previous week, two murder cases had been assigned to the agency. The counsel further asserted that the current case lacked national significance and CBI could not be expected to handle all murder cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Undo This response drew sharp criticism from the bench. "This is not a murder case. How dare you say that? The court did not seek the CBI's involvement to find a body, but to trace a missing person. There is a lingering suspicion that the young man may have been taken outside the territory of Kerala. Hence, we expected the assistance of a national agency like the CBI. The young man has been missing for nearly a year. We had hortatively hoped that a premier institution like the CBI would support the court in bringing some relief to the petitioner, the father, in tracing his son. However, our hopes have been denied. We are truly surprised that you have never before indicated such conditions for extending assistance," the court orally said. The court, however, clarified that it did not propose to entrust the investigation to the CBI in the same manner as it would in cases involving grave offences. Instead, it sought a status report from the state police chief, underscoring that the responsibility to trace the missing person, whether within or outside the state, rests solely with the state police.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Use of plastics by food delivery services: Kerala HC seeks state govt's views
Kochi: High court has asked the state govt to look into issues related to the widespread use of plastics in food delivery services and sought a response within two weeks. While considering a petition concerning food safety, the bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran observed that placing hot food items, such as curries, gravies or rice, in plastic containers leads to microplastic ingestion, which can cause serious health problems. The court remarked that the anti-plastic drive had gained momentum until the Covid-19 pandemic, during which the use of plastic containers surged due to the growing reliance on home delivery. The court also cited a prominent oncologist who noted that the rising incidence of cancers, particularly of the liver, intestine and colon, could be partly attributed to this trend. Additional director general of prosecution Gracious Kuriakose submitted that the matter would be addressed and reported to HC by the next posting date. The court will consider the matter after three weeks. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hans India
09-06-2025
- Hans India
'Nothing unusual, expects change': Kerala HC as woman withdraws criminal case against husband
The Kerala High Court on Monday contended that there is nothing unusual for a woman to close criminal cases filed by her against her ex-husband to save him. Hearing the ex-husband's challenge against a divorce decree, the court said that a wife does so in the expectation that her husband would change. The Family Court had allowed divorce on the ground of cruelty. Before filing the present case, she had filed a criminal case against her husband and two divorce petitions, which were withdrawn or dismissed due to her own disposition, as she chose not to prosecute. She submitted before the court that she did so to protect her former husband and his job as a Higher Secondary School teacher. The division bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M. B. Snehalatha observed that a woman will forgive to protect her family. "A woman will forgive and condone to protect her matrimonial union and family. Forgiveness in such a sense is not a passive act but is an active and transformative one, to heal emotional wounds and to obtain inner peace. For a woman, this is not a sign of her weakness, but a powerful act of strength, ingrained in her inner power, by which the chain of resentment and bitterness is consciously broken. The emotional burden of holding on to grudges happens very often in many relationships and families, and it is the power of a woman to forgive that enables families to rise above pain and create healthy relationships. But, there is always a limit to what a woman can endure," the court said. The court further said that the wife was able to prove that she was assaulted by an iron rod through her discharge summary. Further, there is a protection order under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act in favour of the wife against the husband. It was further pointed out that there are two other criminal cases filed against him, and taking all those into account, the court held that there was no need to interfere with the order of the Family Court.
