Thiruvananthapuram, November 19, 2025 – In a landmark yet contentious ruling, the Kerala High Court has quashed nearly 50% of pending compensation claims filed by victims of the infamous endosulfan pesticide disaster, dealing a blow to thousands of affected families in the state's northern districts. The decision comes amid a sharp spike in leptospirosis cases in Kochi, where relentless monsoon downpours have flooded urban slums and triggered over 200 infections in the past week alone, underscoring Kerala's ongoing battle with environmental and health crises exacerbated by erratic weather.
#### High Court Ruling Slashes Endosulfan Claims: 'Lack of Direct Causation' Cited in 7,500+ Cases
The Kerala High Court, in a division bench order led by Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar, dismissed 7,523 out of 15,046 compensation applications related to the endosulfan tragedy, ruling that petitioners failed to establish "direct causation" between the pesticide's aerial spraying by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) from 1975 to 2000 and their ailments. The endosulfan saga, centered in Kasaragod's cashew plantations, has long been a symbol of corporate negligence, with the banned organochlorine insecticide linked to congenital deformities, neurological disorders, and cancers among over 10,000 victims.
"We cannot award relief based on presumptions; scientific evidence must link exposure to harm," the bench observed, directing the state government to expedite disbursal for the remaining 7,523 validated claims, totaling ₹2,500 crore from the Supreme Court-mandated Endosulfan Victims Relief Fund. The ruling stems from a 2024 audit revealing procedural lapses in claim filings, including expired medical certificates and unsubstantiated exposure timelines.
Victim advocacy groups erupted in protest outside the court, with the Endosulfan Victim Rehabilitation Committee (EVRC) labeling the verdict "a miscarriage of justice." "These families have waited decades for closure; quashing half the claims is like spraying poison again," fumed EVRC coordinator Sugatha Kumari, whose organization represents 5,000 affected individuals in Muliyar and Swarga villages. Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, a vocal critic, vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court, accusing the state of dilly-dallying on genetic studies promised since 2011.
Health Minister Veena George defended the order as "evidence-based," announcing a one-time ₹50,000 hardship allowance for dismissed claimants and pledging mobile clinics for ongoing monitoring. The decision revives debates on the 2017 National Human Rights Commission report, which estimated 5,872 direct victims, but experts like toxicologist Dr. M. Satyanarayanan warn it could set a precedent undermining similar Bhopal gas leak claims.
#### Leptospirosis Outbreak in Kochi: Rains Fuel 200+ Cases, 12 Deaths; Urban Flooding Blamed
Compounding the endosulfan fallout, Kochi is reeling under a leptospirosis epidemic, with the Ernakulam district health department reporting 218 confirmed cases and 12 fatalities since November 10— a 150% jump from last year's figures. The bacterial infection, spread via rat urine-contaminated floodwaters, has overwhelmed hospitals in the port city, where a cyclonic depression has dumped 250 mm of rain in 48 hours, submerging low-lying areas like Kalamassery and Edappally.
"Urbanization without drainage upgrades is turning Kochi into a petri dish for leptospirosis," said Dr. R.V. Asokan, director of the Directorate of Health Services, during an emergency briefing. Symptoms—fever, jaundice, and kidney failure—have hit migrant laborers and slum dwellers hardest, with 60% of cases traced to stagnant water in construction sites and garbage dumps. The district has stockpiled 50,000 doxycycline doses and deployed fogging teams, but officials admit delays in rodent control due to the downpour.
Local MP Hibi Eden flagged the crisis in Parliament, demanding ₹100 crore for monsoon preparedness and criticizing the Kochi Corporation for "negligent waste management." Residents in flooded Vyttila junctions shared harrowing tales: "We wade through sewage daily; now our kids are down with this killer fever," lamented fisherwoman Leela Devi, whose family battles the disease in a makeshift relief camp.
The IMD forecasts continued heavy showers till November 22, with a yellow alert for Ernakulam, potentially pushing cases past 500. Epidemiologists link the surge to climate change-amplified monsoons, echoing 2018's Nipah outbreak and underscoring Kerala's vulnerability to vector-borne threats.
#### Linked Legacies: Pesticides, Pollution, and Perils in Kerala's Green Paradise
These twin developments—judicial pruning of endosulfan redress and a rain-fueled leptospirosis wave—highlight Kerala's intertwined environmental-health fault lines. While the High Court's ruling aims to streamline justice, critics fear it erodes trust in institutions scarred by decades of denial. In Kochi's sodden streets, the immediate fight is survival, but experts call for holistic reforms: stricter pesticide regulations and resilient urban planning.
As protests simmer in Kasaragod and hospitals overflow in Kochi, the state government has convened an all-party meet tomorrow to chart a response. For victims on both fronts, the rains bring not renewal, but a stark reminder of unresolved toxins in soil and water.
Draws from court documents, health bulletins, and stakeholder interviews. Case counts subject to daily revisions.
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