Discrepancies Found Between High Court and Police Data; Urges Diligence in Execution of Legal Processes
The Kerala High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of discrepancies in the reporting of pending criminal cases against sitting and former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the state. The court, in its recent order dated July 23, 2026, highlighted significant inconsistencies between the data provided by the High Court Administration and the State Police Chief.
The High Court Administration reported 555 pending cases as of June 30, 2026, while the State Police Chief's records showed only 256 cases as of June 4, 2026. This substantial difference has prompted the court to direct corrections to be made to ensure accurate statistical reporting. The court emphasized the necessity for diligence and accuracy in filing reports concerning the pending cases.
Further scrutiny revealed issues in the execution of legal processes in older cases. The District Judiciary's report indicated that summons and warrants in 12 cases older than five years and 31 cases older than two years remain unexecuted. The Registrar (District Judiciary) has been instructed to forward these details to the Special Government Pleader. This move aims to ensure that the State Police Chief adopts a more diligent approach in future reporting and execution of legal processes regarding the cases against MPs and MLAs.
The court also addressed the issue of unexecuted warrants in Thiruvananthapuram city. The Assistant Inspector General of Police, who had submitted a report on July 22, 2026, has been directed to provide a comprehensive report. This report should take into account the compliance details provided by the Registrar (District Judiciary) on July 21, 2026.
The Kerala High Court's directives highlight the critical importance of efficient legal administration and the execution of judicial orders. The court has scheduled the next hearing on this matter for August 13, 2026, indicating its continued oversight to ensure compliance and rectification of the issues identified.
Bottom line:-
Directions issued for expedited compliance and accurate reporting regarding pending criminal cases against sitting/former MPs and MLAs in the State of Kerala.
Statutory provision(s): None specified in the judgment.
Suo Motu v. State of Kerala, (Kerala)(DB) : Law Finder Doc id # 2947339
