MSME Must Seek Rehabilitation Under 2015 Framework Despite Bank's Duty To Identify Stress: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that an MSME must itself initiate proceedings under the 2015 Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation when it apprehends failure of its business or an inability to repay its debts.A division bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. made the observation while dismissing Sree Matha Cosmetic Industries' writ appeal against SARFAESI proceedings initiated by UCO Bank.“While the Framework casts an obligation for the Bank to identify the incipient...

Kerala High Court Grants Wild Planet ITC Benefit, Says Delay Cannot Defeat Statutory Right

The Kerala High Court on 28 July held that a taxpayer cannot be denied the statutory benefit of input tax credit (ITC) under Section 16(5) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act merely because it failed to file a rectification application within the deadline prescribed by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. allowed the petition filed by Wild Planet Pvt. Ltd. and set aside the order denying the company ITC, holding that Section 16(5)...

Different Inks On Cheque Do Not Make It Invalid, Cast Doubt On Execution: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has held that a cheque cannot be treated as invalid merely because its signature and other particulars were written in different inks. Justice A. Badharudeen observed that there is no legal requirement for the date, amount, and signature on a cheque to be written in the same ink.“Merely because the signature was put by using one ink and entries were made by using another ink by itself would not make the negotiable instrument as an invalid document or a document to doubt its...

Does A Dispute Arising After A Joint Venture Exit Remain A Commercial Dispute? Kerala High Court Answers

The Kerala High Court has recently held that a dispute arising from an agreement executed to facilitate a partner's exit from a joint venture continues to qualify as a "commercial dispute" under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, even if the claim is based on the dishonour of a cheque issued pursuant to the exit arrangement.Justice Easwaran S. delivered the judgment while dismissing a plea challenging an order of the Commercial Court, Devikulam, rejecting an objection to the maintainability of a...

Kerala High Court Refuses To Quash Cheque Dishonour Complaint Over Defect In Cause Title

The Kerala High Court has held that a cheque dishonour complaint cannot be quashed merely because the authorised representative's name appears before the complainant society's name in the cause title. Holding that such an objection was only technical, the court observed, "As held by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Bhupesh Rathod's case (supra), such a defect, if at all, is merely technical and cannot defeat an otherwise maintainable prosecution." Justice C.S. Dias delivered the ruling while...

CJM Can Entertain Fresh SARFAESI Plea For Possession If Borrower Re-Enters Secured Asset: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) exercising powers under Section 14 of the SARFAESI Act does not become functus officio after handing over possession of a secured asset to a secured creditor. The court held that the Magistrate can entertain a fresh request for assistance if the secured creditor is later unlawfully dispossessed of the secured asset.For context, Section 14 empowers a Chief Judicial Magistrate to assist a secured creditor in taking possession...

Can An Arbitrator Appoint An Advocate Commissioner To Collect Evidence? Kerala High Court Says No

The Kerala High Court has ruled that an arbitral tribunal cannot appoint an Advocate Commissioner to collect evidence by invoking its power to grant interim measures under Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.Justice Easwaran S observed that Section 17 cannot be used to circumvent the limits imposed by Sections 26 and 27 of the Act. "Merely because Section 17 provides power to the arbitrator to grant interim relief, he cannot bypass the prohibition under Section 26 and grant...

Article 227 Petition Not Maintainable When Similar Relief Sought Before Supreme Court: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on 30 July held that parties cannot invoke its supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution to seek interim relief in execution proceedings when connected appeals involving the same dispute are already pending before the Supreme Court. Justice T.R. Ravi refused to stay the execution proceedings pending before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Kochi in a family dispute over management of companies, holding that the petitioners must seek such relief...

Refund Of Service Tax Cannot Be Decided Before Determining Nature Of Contract: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on 27 July held that the question of refund or adjustment of Service Tax cannot be decided before the Assessing Authority determines whether the underlying contract is a works contract or a service contract, as the nature of the contract determines the applicable tax liability. A Division Bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Basant Balaji partly allowed the appeals filed by Gaiagen Technologies Private Limited (formerly Pest Control India Private Limited) and set aside...

NI Act Notice Not Invalid Merely Because Postal Acknowledgment Signature Differs From Cheque: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has recently ruled that once a complainant shows that a legal demand notice in a cheque bounce case was sent to the accused's correct address, a trial court cannot treat the notice as invalid merely because the signature on the postal acknowledgment card differs from the signature on the dishonoured cheque.Justice A. Badharudeen said allowing such an approach would make it easy for accused persons to avoid liability. "If such a procedure is recognized in law, clever accused...

Supreme Court Pleadings Cannot Decide Legal Status Of Nair Service Society: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on 17 July dismissed a writ appeal filed by a member of the Nair Service Society (NSS) seeking action against the Society and its directors for alleged violations of the Companies Act, 2013. A Division Bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar held that pleadings filed before the Supreme Court could not determine the Society's regulatory framework. The judges observed:“It can thus be held that the “court of record” attribute under Article 129 does not mean...

Return Of Title Deeds Dispute Remains Arbitrable Despite Mandatory Injunction Relief: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on 14 July 2025 held that a claim for return of title deeds remains arbitrable even when framed as a suit for mandatory injunction, ruling that the nature of the relief claimed does not determine arbitrability when the dispute arises from an agreement containing a broad arbitration clause. Justice T.R. Ravi allowed the reference of the dispute between The Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. and KTC Group entities to arbitration, holding that the expression “any matter in any way...