Hashrin C P vs The State Of Kerala
2026 Latest Caselaw 2515 Ker

Kerala High Court

Hashrin C P vs The State Of Kerala on 1 April, 2026

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               IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                               PRESENT

           THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISANKAR V. MENON

     WEDNESDAY, THE 1ST DAY OF APRIL 2026 / 11TH CHAITHRA, 1948

                        WP(C) NO.9333 OF 2023

PETITIONERS:


    1      HASHRIN C. P.,
           AGED 26 YEARS, S/O ABDUL GAFAR C.P.,
           1/734C, WEST AVENUE VILLA APARTMENTS,
           WEST HILL P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673005,
           NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 6G, OLIVE COURTYARD,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM 682030.

    2      JISHA RAJAN,
           AGED 31 YEARS, D/O RAJAN E. K.,
           C3, PEARL DEW APARTMENT, MOOLEPPADOM ROAD,
           KALAMASSERY, ERNAKULAM, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 7G,
           OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    3      VAISHNAV,
           AGED 26 YEARS, S/O S. RAJEEV, KRISHNA(H),
           NEAR LIONS CLUB, PUTHIYIDOM, KAYAMKULAM P.O.- 690502,
           NOW RESIDING AT BARENTS 2A, OLIVE COURTYARD,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    4      DIVYENDH SURESH,
           S/O SURESH T. K., GEETHANJALY HOUSE,
           VADAKARA, KOZHIKODE, 673102, NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 8B,
           OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    5      ANARGHA,
           AGED 29 YEARS, D/O AJITH KUMAR, NEST,
           1ST FLOOR, KRISHNAWORTH APARTMENTS, PUTHUR P. O.,
           PALAKKAD, NOW RESIDING AT CORAL - 11A, OLIVE COURTYARD,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    6      JIBIN RAJAN K.,
           AGED 34 YEARS, S/O RAJAN K.,
           NALLAKKANDIYIL HOUSE, NEERVELI P.O., MERUVAMBAI,
           KANNUR -670601, NOW RESIDING AT 11C, ESTONIA, OLIVE
           COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.
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    7     RESHMI RADHAKRISHNAN,
          AGED 30 YEARS, W/O JIBIN RAJAN,
          NALLAKKANDIYIL HOUSE, NEERVELI P.O., MERUVAMBAI,
          KANNUR -670601, NOW RESIDING AT 11C, ESTONIA,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    8     ANANTH V.,
          AGED 30 YEARS, S/O VASUDEVAN,
          VELIMPARAMBU, AMBALAPUZHA, ALAPPUZHA-688005,
          NOW RESIDING AT ESTONIA 12-D, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    9     POOJA K. NAIR,
          AGED 22 YEARS, D/O KRISHNANUNNI E,
          ERAVIKULANGARA (H), KANJIRAKODE P.O.,
          VADAKANCHERY THRISSUR- 680590, NOW RESIDING AT
          CORAL 11-D, OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    10    AKSHAY RAVINDRAN,
          AGED 23 YEARS, S/O T. R. RAVINDRAN NAIR,
          RAVI BHAVAN, KEZHUVAMKULAM P.O., KOTTAYAM -686584,
          NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 18-H, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    11    SUBIN MONI,
          AGED 27 YEARS, S/O MONI JOHN,
          KOSHY VILLA PUTHOOR P.O., KOLLAM- 691507
          NOW RESIDING AT ESTONIA -13A, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    12    AMAL THOMAS,
          AGED 27 YEARS, S/O THOMAS MANI, KOLLIYIL (H),
          RAJAKANDOM P.O., VANDENMEDU, IDUKKI-68551,
          NOW RESIDING AT ALASKA -12D, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    13    JOSON BIJU,
          AGED 25 YEARS, S/O BIJU MATHEW,
          MADATHIKUNNEL (H), PANAMILAVE P.O.,
          KOZHIKODE- 673639, NOW RESIDING AT BARENTS - 2A,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    14    RANJITH R. K.,
          AGED 25 YEARS, S/O RADHAKRISHNAN C. V.,
          JYOTHIS, THOTTAKKARA, OTTAPALAM P.O.- 679102
          NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 9-D, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.
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    15    JUDITH GEORGE,
          AGED 24 YEARS, S/O GEORGE JOSEPH,
          KALAPPURACKAL (H), KODUVELY P.O., KODIKULAM,
          IDUKKI-685581 NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 9-D,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.


    16    SHASHANK MENON,
          AGED 23 YEARS, S/O MOHAN DAS V.,
          B-201, POCKET-1, SECTOR-82, NOIDA,
          UTTAR PRADESH-201304, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET - 18H,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    17    SANJAY GOVIND P.,
          AGED 25 YEARS, S/O PRASANNAN P.,
          SOUPARNIKA (H), PALUNDA, EDAKKARA(P.O),
          MALAPPURAM, PIN : 679331, NOW RESIDING AT CORAL-8B,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    18    SALJO EDASSERY,
          AGED 26 YEARS, S/O JOHNY EDASSERY,
          EDASSERY HOUSE, THOTTUMUKKAM P.O., KOZHIKODE - 673639
          NOW RESIDING AT DULCET-6G, OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    19    SARATH BABY,
          AGED 25 YEARS, S/O BABY E. J.,
          EDASSERIL HOUSE, RAJAPURAM P.O, KANHANGAD,
          KASARAGOD- 671532, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET-6G,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    20    SUJITH K.,
          AGED 24 YEARS, S/O KUNHAMBU T.,
          KADAPPIL HOUSE, PANOOR, KOTTOOR P.O., KASARAGOD- 671542,
          NOW RESIDING AT CORAL-8B, OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    21    ABEY BABU,
          AGED 26 YEARS, S/O BABU C.C.,
          MANGALASSERIL HOUSE, THAKAZHY P.O., ALAPUZHA - 688562,
          NOW RESIDING AT ESTONIA-13A, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    22    RENJITH BABY,
          AGED 23 YEARS, S/O BABY E. J.,
          EDASSERIL HOUSE, RAJAPURAM P.O., KANHANGAD,
          KASARAGOD- 671532, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET-12B,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.
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    23    RAMEEZ YUSUF,
          AGED 26 YEARS, S/O YUSUFMANGAT HOUSE,
          PADA NORTH, KARUNAGAPPALLY, KOLLAM- 690518,
          NOW RESIDING AT ESTONIA-13 A, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    24    SHAWN THOMAS SAM,
          AGED 30 YEARS, S/O SAM VARGHESE,
          KEERICKAL HOUSE, KANNANKARA, PATHANAMTHITTA P.O.,
          689645, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 12B, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    25    NEERAJ KRISHNA,
          AGED 24 YEARS, S/O SABU M.K.,
          MAVUNKAL HOUSE, KARIMPADAM, CHENDAMANGALAM P.O., 683512,
          NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 9D, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    26    AVITH M. LAL,
          AGED 24 YEARS, S/O, MANILAL K,
          ISWAR NIVAS, PLRA-93, KODUNGANOOR P.O.,
          VATTIYOORKAV, TRIVANDRUM.- 695013,
          NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 8B, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    27    ANSHAD HASSAN,
          AGED 26 YEARS, S/O ASSAN KOYA,
          EDOTH HOUSE, NADUVANNUR, KOZHIKKODE, - 673614,
          NOW RESIDING AT ALASKA-12D, OLIVE COURTYARD,
          KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    28    JOYAL THOMAS,
          AGED 25 YEARS, S/O THOMAS DAVID,
          PULLANIYIL (H), KAIPATTOOR P.O.,
          PATHANAMTHITTA- 689648, NOW RESIDING AT CORAL 9D,
           OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    29    PRABHAV RAJEEV,
          AGED 23 YEARS, S/O RAJEEV S.S.,
          RAM NIVAS, RAMAN LANE, KOWDIAR P.O.,
          TRIVANDRUM- 695003, NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 18H,
          OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    30    ANIRUDH R.,
          AGED 26 YEARS, S/O RAJAGOPAL G, EASWARI NIVAS,
          KANATTUKARA P.O., THRISSUR- 680011, NOW RESIDING AT
          DULCET 12B, OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD,
          ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.
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    31     GOKUL P. V.,
           AGED 26 YEARS, S/O SURESH BABU K,
           RAGAM, VELLIYAMPARAMBA, MATTANUR COLLEGE P.O.,
           KANNUR - 670702 NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 12B, OLIVE
           COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    32     LIJU T. M.,
           AGED 36 YEARS, S/O KRISHNADAS,
           MAVANCHERI HOUSE. CHIRAKKAL, TANUR P.O.,
           MALAPPURAM-67630 NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 13E,
           OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM,
           PIN - 682303.

    33     RAMESH P.,
           AGED 32 YEARS, S/O KUNJAN NAMBEESAN,
           PUSHPAKATH HOUSE, KARIKKAD P.O., KUNNAMKULAM- 680519,
           NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 13E, OLIVE COURTYARD,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    34     ARCHANA CHANDRAN,
           AGED 40 YEARS, D/O ELIYAN CHANDRAN,
           KRIPA, KOLATHVAYAL, ANCHAMPEEDIKA P.O., KANNUR-670331.
           NOW RESIDING AT ESTONIA-11F, OLIVE COURTYARD,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    35     ROHITH R. NAIR,
           AGED 26 YEARS, S/O RAGHUNATHAN NAIR,
           CHAITHRAM HOUSE, NORTH MAZHUVANNOOR, ERNAKULAM-686669
           NOW RESIDING AT DULCET 12 B, OLIVE COURTYARD, KAKKANAD,
           ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.


           BY ADVS.
           SRI.K.SUDHINKUMAR
           SHRI.S.NITHIN (ANCHAL)




RESPONDENTS:

    1      THE STATE OF KERALA,
           REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY,
           GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
           THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001.

    2      THE ADDITIONAL SECRETARY,
           HOME DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
           THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001.
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    3      DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
           POLICE COMMISSIONERATE, KOCHI CITY,
           MARINE DRIVE, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682011.

    4      THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
           INFOPARK POLICE STATION, INFORPARK CAMPUS,
           KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.

    5      OLIVE COURTYARD OWNERS ASSOCIATION,
           REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, OPP. INFOPARK,
           THENGODE P.O., KAKKANAD, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682030.


           BY ADVS.
           SRI.A.BALAGOPALAN
           SHRI.A.RAJAGOPALAN
           SHRI.M.N.MANMADAN
           SRI.M.S.IMTHIYAZ AHAMMED
           SMT.P.SEENA



OTHER PRESENT:

           SRI. N.B. SUNIL NATH, GOVT. PLEADER


     THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
01.04.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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                             JUDGMENT

Heard Sri.K.Sudhinkumar, learned counsel for the

petitioners, Sri.N.B.Sunil Nath, learned Government Pleader for

respondents 1 to 4, as well as Sri.A.Balagopalan, learned

counsel for the 5th respondent.

2. The petitioners are stated to be the tenants of an

apartment complex, represented by the 5th respondent

association. The petitioners state that most of the tenants are

working at Infopark in Kakkanadu in various IT companies, and

that, both families as well as bachelors form the bulk of the

tenants. The complaint of the petitioners in this writ petition is

against the by-laws at Ext.P1 dated 24.12.2022, as well as the

communication issued by the 5th respondent to the 4th

respondent. As regards the by-laws at Ext.P1, the petitioners

seek to challenge Clause Nos.3,5,6 and 10, which read as

follows:-

"3. No overnight stay/Short term visits of guests in the flats without prior approval of Owner and OCOA. If found otherwise Tenancy Agreement is liable to be cancelled.

5. Mixed crowd bachelor's will not be allowed as Tenants.

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Any meeting among existing mixed crowd bachelors not permitted, except in the ground floor lobby or common areas outside the towers.

6. Mixed Crowd Bachelors shall desist from taking the guest to their units and advised to meet them and see them off from the Lobby/Outside the tower.

10. Any overnight stay of anyone not in the records of OCOA will be dealt as a trespasser."

3. The challenge as regards Ext.P2 communication

issued by the 5th respondent to the 4th respondent Station

House Officer (HSO) pertains to Clauses 3,4 and 6, which read

as under:-

"3. വാടകക്കരാറിൽ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന ആളുകളള മാത്രമമ

ഫ്ലാറ്റുകളിൽ രാമസിക്കാൻ അനുവദിക്കാവൂ.

4. ഫ്ളാറ്റുകളിലുള്ള സന്ദര്ശന സമയം നിജളെടുമേണ്ടരും

അസമയങ്ങളിൽ ഫ്ലാറ്റിൽ എേുന്ന സന്ദർശകളര പരിമശാധിച്ച്

അവരുളട സന്ദർശന ഉമേശം അറിയുന്നരിനും ആവശയളമങ്കിൽ

അവളര നിരുത്സാഹളെടുേുന്നരിനും ളസകയൂരിട്ടി ഉമദയാഗസ്ഥളര

ചുമരലളെടുമേണ്ടരാണ്.

6. അപരിചിരളര ഫ്ലാറ്റുകളിൽ ത്പമവശിെിക്കാൻ പാടുള്ളരലല."

4. Taking note of the rival submissions, this Court has

attempted a mediation, referring the parties for mediation

through the Mediation Centre, attached to this Court. However,

the learned counsel for the petitioners states that the 5 th

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respondent did not turn up for the mediation. In any way, the

attempt at mediation has failed.

5. On a consideration of the rival submissions, I note

that as regards the communication issued to the 4th respondent

SHO (Ext.P2), there cannot be any insistence that only the

tenants with whom the tenancy has been entered into could

reside in the apartment. This Court can understand a situation

where there is a subtenancy. But here, if a tenant is

entertaining his relatives or his friends, that by itself, in my

opinion, could not be interdicted by the 5th respondent

association. Similarly, the directions at Clause No.4 of Ext.P2,

seeking to prescribe the visiting time within which the guests

could be entertained by the tenants, also could not be

sustained. It is for the tenants to decide the time for

entertaining the guests/ relatives, etc. For the very same

reason, Clause No.6 of Ext.P2 could also not be enforced.

6. This Court also notices the judgment of a Division

Bench of this Court in People for Animals (PFA) v. State of

Kerala and Others [2021 (6) KLT 267], wherein it has been

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found that the clauses in a by-law or an agreement that would

have an effect absolutely prohibiting a person from keeping his

pet in the residential unit would be void and unenforceable in

law. In view of the afore, I am of the opinion that the clauses

contained in Ext.P1, seeking to interdict the overnight

stay/short time visit of guests, etc., also could not be enforced

through police authorities.

7. In such circumstances, this writ petition would stand

ordered, directing the 4th respondent to act on the basis of the

observations made in this judgment, while responding to Ext.P2

communication received from the 5th respondent. This direction

would not stand in the way of the police authorities in taking

appropriate steps, if and when the offences are found to have

been committed in the apartments.

This writ petition is disposed of, as above.

Sd/-

                                     HARISANKAR V. MENON
                                               JUDGE
Skk//01.04.2026

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                APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO.9333 OF 2023

PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1              TRUE COPY OF THE REGULATIONS BROUGHT IN BY
                        THE 5 TH RESPONDENT DATED 24.12.2022
EXHIBIT P2              TRUE COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION ISSUED BY THE

4 TH RESPONDENT TO THE 5 TH RESPONDENT DATED 20.08.2022 EXHIBIT P3 TRUE COPY OF THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO THE SECURITY GUARDS BY THE 5 TH RESPONDENT DATED NIL WITH TYPED COPY EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION FILED BY THE PETITIONERS AND OTHERS BEFORE THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED 12.01.2023