Malappuram Court Takes Action Under Kerala Public Health Act, Fines Owner and Tenant

Parappanangadi First Class Judicial Magistrate Court

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Published on Aug 22, 2025, 03:17 PM | 2 min read

Malappuram: For the first time under the new Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, a court in Malappuram has fined a house owner and a tenant Rs. 15,000 each for not following public health rules. The case is about a house where a lot of waste had piled up, creating the place for mosquitoes and rats to breed.

The Parappanangadi First Class Judicial Magistrate Court found the house owner and tenant guilty and held them responsible for not listening to repeated warnings from the health department.

Officials said that even after getting an official notice asking them to stop dumping waste carelessly, both the owner and the tenant did not take any action. Their carelessness created a health hazard in the area. Because of this, V. Anoop, the Health Inspector at the Neduva Community Health Centre, filed a case against them.

The court said that the house owner and tenant had broken three important rules under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023. These rules are meant to stop the spread of diseases, give health officers the power to inspect places and take action, and allow fines or legal steps against those who break the law.

The court observed that Section 21 of the Act bans any situation that can help spread infectious diseases. Section 45 allows health officials to inspect properties and take necessary steps to fix health and hygiene issues. Section 53 lays out the punishments and legal actions that can be taken when someone breaks the public health rules.

Health officials also said this is the first time in the district that someone has been fined under this new law, which was introduced last year to improve Kerala’s public health system and make sure people follow hygiene and safety rules.

"This verdict sets an important precedent for strict enforcement of public health standards. We will continue to act against individuals or establishments that neglect public hygiene and endanger communities," said a senior health department official.

The Kerala Public Health Act, 2023 was enacted to consolidate various public health-related laws into a single, modern framework. The Act grants health authorities the power to inspect premises, issue notices, and take legal action against individuals or institutions causing environmental or health hazards.

Key sections invoked in the case: