Elderly man challenges child rights panel’s ‘public nuisance’ call in Kerala high court

Kochi: The Kerala high court has set aside an order of the state child rights commission declaring that a 72-year-old man from Palluruthy in Ernakulam appeared to be a "public nuisance," pursuant to petitions filed by his neighbours.Justice Harisankar V Menon passed the order on a petition filed by the elderly man challenging the commission's decision, contending that it had been issued without affording him an opportunity to be heard. He further submitted that the impugned order was passed without taking note of the ongoing disputes and cases between him and his neighbours.The commission issued the order in 2022 on petitions filed by the elderly man's neighbours, including children, alleging that he had engaged in verbal abuse and obscene conduct. While considering the challenge, the single bench noted that the commission had made extensive reference to the complaints in its order. The court observed that before declaring the petitioner to be a "public nuisance" — a finding with significant consequences — the panel ought to issue him proper notice. A reading of the order also indicated that no notice whatsoever had been issued to him.Accordingly, the court set aside the impugned order and directed the commission to reconsider the matter afresh after issuing proper notice to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible.