Kauser Edappagath

Kauser Edappagath is an Indian judge serving as a judge of Kerala High Court. Headquartered at Ernakulam, Kochi, the High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Edappagath was the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ernakulam before being appointed as a Kerala High Court judge.

Early life and education Edappagath was born in Kerala. He completed his schooling from M.M. Uloom U.P. School, Kannur and Government City High School, Kannur. He graduated from Sir Syed College (Taliparamba), obtained law degree from Government Law College, Kozhikode and post graduation in law in Contracts from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.

In 2005 he has finished International Accredited Mediation Training Course conducted jointly by Mediation Council, U.K., ADR Chamber, U.K. and Hamline University School of Law in association with Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation.

In 2007 he did his paper presentation at International Family Law Conference organized by International Islamic University Malaysia held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He was awarded Ph.D in Law by the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi in 2012. suo motu directed State Police Chief to avoid crowding of people at all Vaccination centres and issued various directions to Government to control private hospitals and to regulate their treatment costs and a suggestion was also made by the bench to takeover 50% beds of all private hospitals for COVID patients. A timely intervention was made by the bench consisting of Justice Mustaque and Justice Edapagath directing the State Government to include the practicing lawyers and advocate clerks in the priority list of COVID-19 vaccination list pointing out that purpose of inclusion of the judicial officers and staffs would become meaningless if the practicing lawyers and clerks are not included and in the very same judgment, the bench considered the concern pointed out by a single bench of the High Court regarding the measures to be taken by the concerned police officer for protection of Senior Citizen living alone and having no assistance from others shall be served with due care and assistance pointing out the death of a senior citizen happened in Palakkad, and bench consisting of Justice Edapagath directed the State Government to ensure the care and protection as envisaged under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and to made available the vaccination at the residence of the Senior Citizen and bedridden patients.

Media trial in criminal case In 2023, a larger bench headed by Justice Jayasankaran Nambiar with Justices Edappagath, Justice Mohammed Nias C. P, C. S. Sudha and Justice Syam Kumar V. M. ruled as media commentary declaring an accused guilty or innocent while a criminal case is pending is not protected speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, as it must be balanced against the individual’s right to dignity, reputation and a fair trial under Article 21 and specifically observed as “media freedom does not grant a license to interfere with the justice delivery system.” and the risk of “trial by media” skewing public perception of the outcome of pending cases .