Report No. 14
48. Kerala
1. The State of Kerala was brought into existence by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. It comprises what was previously the State of Travancore-Cochin less some areas transferred to the Madras State, the Malabar District of Madras, excluding the Laccadive and Minicoy islands and the Kasargod Taluq of the South Kanara District.
2. Territory and population.-
According to the census of 1951, the population of the enlarged State is 1,35,49,118 spread over an area of 15,035 square miles. This State ranks first in the country in respect of the density of population and literacy-the former being roughly 950 persons per square mile and the latter 40.88 per cent. of the population. We have been told that the people of this State are economically backward. As will be seen later, this is reflected by the fact that a large number of suits-roughly 87 per cent.-out of the total number that come up for adjudication before the regular civil courts are valued below Rs. 1,000.
3. The High Court strength.-
Since the last four years, that is, from 1954, the High Court has been functioning with eight judges but for a fall in the number once or twice for short periods due to retirement of judges and the like.
Table No. 1
Appellate Side
1954 |
1955 |
1956 |
||||||||||
| Nature of Proceeding | Pending at the beginning |
Institutions |
Disposal |
Pending at the beginning |
Institutions |
Disposal |
Pending at the beginning |
Institutions |
Received from Madras |
Transferred to Madras |
Disposal |
Pending on 1st Jan, 1957 |
| 1 | 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
| Regular First Appeals | 1868 |
745 |
1142 |
1471 |
795 |
1180 |
1086 |
769 |
304 |
172 |
764 |
1223 |
| Regular Second Appeals | 2497 |
1111 |
1765 |
1843 |
1165 |
1507 |
1501 |
1254 |
559 |
204 |
1147 |
1963 |
| Appeals against Orders | 143 |
258 |
284 |
117 |
274 |
251 |
140 |
223 |
73 |
12 |
249 |
175 |
| Letters Patent or Special Appeals | .. |
... |
.. |
. |
.. |
. |
.. |
.. |
29 |
.. |
.. |
29 |
| Writs | 142 |
219 |
261 |
100 |
460 |
259 |
301 |
573 |
106 |
13 |
432 |
535 |
| Review | 32 |
40 |
34 |
38 |
74 |
63 |
49 |
60 |
.. |
.. |
57 |
52 |
| Revision | 285 |
600 |
680 |
205 |
709 |
703 |
211 |
749 |
245 |
22 |
657 |
526 |
| Reference | 18 |
25 |
16 |
27 |
26 |
16 |
37 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
| Love to appeal to Supreme Court | 18 |
32 |
43 |
7 |
63 |
64 |
6 |
79 |
.. |
.. |
60 |
25 |
| Original Suits | 3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
.. |
3 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
| Miscellaneous | 2329 |
3713 |
4077 |
1965 |
4101 |
4681 |
1385 |
3629 |
96 |
142 |
3587 |
1381 |
Table No. 2
Nature of Proceedings |
Year of Institution |
|||||||||||||
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
1946 |
1947 |
1948 |
1949 |
1950 |
1951 |
1952 |
1953 |
1954 |
1955 |
1956 |
|
Regular first Appeals |
1 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
42 |
84 |
172 |
333 |
578 |
Regular Second Appeals |
.. |
1 |
.. |
.. |
5 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
16 |
248 |
608 |
1046 |
Appeals against Orders |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
2 |
8 |
48 |
116 |
Letters Patent or Special Appeals |
.. |
... |
.. |
. |
.. |
. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
3 |
18 |
4 |
3 |
Writs |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
79 |
434 |
Revision |
.. |
1 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
. |
. |
. |
2 |
1 |
3 |
27 |
74 |
418 |
Review |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
1 |
... |
1 |
12 |
37 |
Reference |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
9 |
22 |
11 |
Original Suits |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
|
Micellaneous |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
27 |
1354 |
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