Relief for Keralam judge for now as probe into fatal crash by teen son deepens

The Kerala High Court is not expected to take immediate action against an Additional District and Sessions Judge who was named as an accused in a case involving a fatal car accident involving his 17-year-old son.The High Court’s administrative committee had earlier met to discuss the matter, but no immediate action against the judge is expected.The development comes as the judge has approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. In his application, he stated that he had no knowledge that his minor son had taken out the Mercedes-Benz car registered in his name.He claimed that he learnt about the accident only after receiving a phone call following the crash. The accident occurred earlier this week when the Mercedes-Benz, driven by the judge’s son, crashed into a scooter, killing its rider, Jayabalakrishnan, a 55-year-old man who ran a roadside eatery.The case has triggered public outrage, with the victim’s family demanding action against the judge and questioning the police’s initial handling of the matter. Responding to a notice on the issue in the state Assembly on Tuesday, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said a case had been registered against the judge, in whose name the luxury car was registered.“They (police) have informed the High Court about the case registered. The High Court has to take action against the judge. The government has no role in it,” the minister said.The minister also acknowledged lapses by the police and criticised the Juvenile Justice Board for granting bail to the minor driver.VICTIM’S FAMILY DEMANDS ACTIONJayabalakrishnan died after his scooter was hit from behind by the Mercedes-Benz driven by the judge’s son.The teenager was initially detained and booked under negligence charges before being released on station bail. Following public outrage, he was detained again and produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail.“I am saying this here. I have the protection of the House, that the Juvenile Justice Board should not have granted bail,” Chennithala said.The minister said he had spoken to the Director General of Police (DGP) and questioned why only bailable sections had initially been invoked in the case. He added that he had directed the police to initiate proceedings to cancel the teenager’s bail.Meanwhile, police named the Additional District and Sessions Judge as an accused under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act. The provision deals with the liability of a juvenile’s guardian or the vehicle’s owner for offences committed by a minor under the Act.Police said the investigation had been transferred to the District Crime Branch because of the sensitive nature of the case. The Kerala High Court had earlier granted permission to the police to name the judge as an accused.CHARGES REVISED AFTER INITIAL POLICE ACTIONThe police initially registered a case under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with causing death by negligence, and released the teenager on station bail on Sunday evening.Following protests by the victim’s family outside the Cheranalloor police station, the teenager was detained again and booked under Section 105 of the BNS, relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder. He was subsequently produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which granted him bail.Police also said a video recovered from the teenager showed the car travelling at around 104 kmph.Jayabalakrishnan’s son, Barathsankar, said the family would continue its protest until action was taken against the judge and the Juvenile Justice Board that granted bail to the teenager.The case has drawn scrutiny over the police’s initial response, the bail granted to the minor and the legal responsibility of a vehicle’s registered owner when a minor drives and is involved in a fatal crash.- Ends