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The Kerala High Court, in V.K. Thajudheen and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors [2025:KER:88675], directed the State government to pay Rs. 14 Lakhs compensation to a NRI man, Thajudheen, and his family after he was imprisoned for a period of 54 days in judicial custody based on false charge of chain snatching, causing much ignominy to them.

Retirement benefits, such as pension and gratuity, are attachable in maintenance proceedings, observed the High Court of Kerala in Rifa Fathima v Salim [2025:KER:84776].

An employee who resigns or opts for voluntary retirement is entitled to gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, provided he has completed at least five years of continuous service, the Supreme Court observed in Ashok Kumar Dabas (Dead Through Legal Heirs) v. Delhi Transport Corporation [2025 INSC 1404].

In Sadiq B. Hanchinmani v. The State Of Karnataka [2025 INSC 1282], the Supreme Court observed that once the facts alleged in the complaint disclose the commission of an offence,…

A civil court can declare a person legally dead if they have not been heard from for seven years, based on Section 108 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. This is typically done when a legal heir files a civil suit for a declaration of presumed death to settle matters like inheritance, remarriage, or insurance.

The High Court of Kerala, in Margret @Thankam v. Joseph Mathew Chettupuzha [2025: KER:56880], has clarified the conditions under which Indian courts can recognize documents notarized in a foreign country.

The High Court of Kerala clarified in a judgment, in Harisankar S. v State of Kerala & Others [2025:KER:43507], that state universities cannot insist on equivalence on certificate from National Institutions, National Universities such as Indira Gandhi Open University (IGNOU) and other institutions recognized by the University Gants Commission (UGC).

The Legal Services Authorities Act,1987 (LSA Act) refers to two types of Lok Adalats: the first is a Lok Adalat constituted under Section 19 of the Act which has no adjudicatory functions or powers and which discharges purely conciliatory functions and the second is a Permanent Lok Adalat established under section 22B(1) of LSA Act to exercise jurisdiction in respect of public utility services, having both conciliatory and adjudicatory functions.

The Appointing Authority need not initiate disciplinary proceedings against a civil servant. The appointing authority need not always required to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a state employee, says the Supreme Court (SC) in The State of Jharkhand & Others v Rukma Kesh Mishra [2025 INSC 412].

The construction made in contravention of the Acts / Rules would be construed as illegal and unauthorized construction, which has to be necessarily demolished and it cannot be legitimized or protected solely under the ruse of the passage of time or citing inaction of the authorities or by taking recourse to the excuse that substantial money has been spent on the said construction, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Rajendra Kumar Barjatya & Another v U P Avas Evam Vikas Parishad & Ors [2024 INSC 990].