The Hindu : Kerala News : Highlighting the rich judicial tradition of Thalassery

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 28, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Highlighting the rich judicial tradition of Thalassery

The bicentenary celebrations of the Thalassery courts will come to an end on October 29 with the valedictory function to be inaugurated by Governor R.L. Bhatia.

The organisers will once again highlight the history of the courts since the establishment of the first Zilla Court at Thalassery in 1802 and its evolution over the last two centuries.

Roads and spots at Thalassery are still named after eminent English judges who presided over the courts and formed part of the social life of the place. Some of them tried to understand the native customs of the people and some even studied local history.

William Logan, who served as district judge at Thalassery in 1873, is still remembered for his Malabar Manual.

The strange family matrilineal system prevailing in North Malabar was studied by W. Holloway, who was judge at Thalassery in 1856.

He is considered the father of the law that concerns `marumakkathayam' of inheritance.

The court Bar Association Library is known as Reid's Library as it was J.W. Reid during his tenure in the court in 1869 donated his collection of books to the Association.

The Thalassery Bar also produced legal luminaries like V.R. Krishna Iyer and V. Khalid, former Supreme Court judges.

The organisers of the bicentenary fete have brought to limelight the tradition of the town's legal and judicial administration.

MOHAMED NAZEER

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