Karunakaran Babu


----Karunakaran Babu , often referred to as K 'Babu', is an Indian judge who is presently serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court. The High Court of Kerala, headquartered at Ernakulam, Kochi, is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Presently he also serves as the Administrative Judge for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, overseeing its judicial administration. Prior to his elevation to the High Court, he served as the District and Sessions Judge, Thiruvananthapuram.

Family and education

Babu attended Government High School, Thevannoor, mastered in Economics from University of Kerala, obtained a law degree from Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, and an LLM Degree from the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.
Babu comes from a close-knit family with deep-rooted values in education and law. His son, Mr. Varun Babu, born on August 25, 2004, is an alumnus of Loyola School, Thiruvananthapuram, is currently pursuing his legal studies at Christ University in Delhi NCR. His daughter, Mrs. Vrinda Babu, has already established herself in the legal field, having completed her Master of Laws from Cochin University of Science and Technology and practicing as a Lawyer. His wife, Mrs. Sandhya Babu, formerly a dedicated School Teacher, has played a significant role in shaping their family's academic and ethical foundations. Justice Babu's parents, Mr. Karunakaran and Mrs. Bhavani, were engaged in Agriculture, instilling in him a strong sense of discipline and hard work that continues to reflect in his professional and personal.

Career

Babu enrolled as an advocate on March 20, 1994, and began his legal practice in Kottarakkara and Kollam, specializing primarily in Civil law , Family law and Criminal law while handling various other branches of law. In 2009, he secured the 1st rank in the Kerala Higher Judicial Service examination and joined as a District & Sessions Judge. Over the years, he served in multiple key judicial and administrative roles, including:
While serving as Principal District Judge, Thiruvananthapuram, he was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court on February 25, 2021, and became a permanent judge on June 6, 2022.

Notable rulings

  • Case against Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, When the anticipatory bail plea came up for hearing, Justice K Babu said the matter would be posted for a detailed hearing. “During the pendency of the case, I will not permit the police to arrest the petitioner because he has raised serious contentions,” the court observed. “No man shall be condemned unless heard. When a matter is pending before a constitutional court, he will not be arrested. The petitioner’s case is that it was a consensual relationship. And admittedly, there is a consensual relationship,” Justice Babu added.
  • Jomon Puthenpurackal v State of Kerala
The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered CBI enquiry into former Chief Secretary of Kerala K. M. Abraham in a case of illegal amassment of wealth. The order was passed by Justice K. Babu in a petition filed by Jomon Puthenpurackal, a popular activist. It is alleged that while serving as the Additional Chief Secretary of Financial Department, Abraham acquired wealth disproportionate to his income.
  • Actor assault case
In the Dileep case, Justice K. Babu issued a directive for the Ernakulam District and Sessions Judge to provide copies of statements made during the fact-finding inquiry to the survivor. This directive came in response to a plea filed by the survivor alleging unauthorized access to a memory card containing visuals of the alleged assault. The court also ordered the sessions judge to conduct an inquiry into the alleged unauthorized access and leakage of the memory card's contents.
  • Ex-Minister Dr K. T. Jaleel's Challenge Against Lok Ayukta Report
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed the writ petition filed by former Minister for Higher Education and Minority Welfare KT Jaleel, challenging a report of the Kerala Lok Ayukta which had found him guilty of nepotism and favouritism. A division bench comprising Justice PB Suresh Kumar and Justice K Babu affirmed the Lok Ayukta report, stating that Jaleel had not made out any ground...
The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed all further proceedings in a criminal case registered against actor Unni Mukundan for outraging the modesty of a woman script writer. Justice K. Babu passed the stay order on a petition filed by the actor seeking to quash the case.
  • Concept Of 'Res ipsa loquitur Is Merely An Aid For Evidence in Criminal Cases, Not Substantive Law
The Kerala High Court observed that the principle of res ipsa loquitur can be extended to criminal cases, only as an aid for assessment of evidence. The maxim does not embody any rule of substantive law nor a rule of evidence., said the Court.The Bench of Justice K Babu' observed thus while acquitting an accused, convicted of rash and negligent...
  • Torture' Not Part Of Police's Official Duty, No Sanction Required To Prosecute For Such Acts
The Kerala High Court has held that a Magistrate Court can take cognizance in case of custodial torture by police office, without prior sanction of the State Government under Section 197 of CrPC. Justice K. Babu reasoned that a Police Officer torturing a man in a police station cannot be treated as part of official duty, thus not requiring sanction to prosecute.