Civet Brings Kerala High Court To A Halt After Causing Concern At Houses Of CM & Opposition Leader

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 14:16 IST

The proceedings before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji were disrupted due to a stench left behind by a common palm civet

News18

The Kerala High Court (HC) witnessed bizarre scenes on Tuesday morning after judges, lawyers and court staff were forced to leave the Chief Justice’s courtroom due to a strong stink.

The proceedings before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji were disrupted due to a stench left behind by a common palm civet. Due to the horrible smell, the division bench adjourned all matters that were listed before it. Court number 1, where the Chief Justice hears matters, rose after less than 30 minutes of sitting.

A common palm civet, also known as the Asian palm civet or toddy cat, believed to have strayed into the HC premises from the Mangalavanam bird sanctuary close to the court, was found to have urinated at night. Known for its pungent urine, the animal often makes its presence felt in enclosed spaces.

More than a year ago, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan had narrated the troubles due to civet cats at their official residences, both old mansions in the state’s capital.

Vijayan had said the animals were disturbing his sleep by hurrying across the tiled roof at night and could not leave a glass of water uncovered in the bedroom at Cliff House, while Satheesan has faced the same issue at his official residence, Cantonment House, some 2.5 km away from the former.

Its proximity to the 2.74-hectare protected bird sanctuary is one of the issues that were raised by those who called for moving the HC from Kochi city to the suburb of Kalamassery. The mangrove located in the heart of Kochi is routinely visited by migratory birds.

Asian Palm Civets, also known as toddy cats, a nocturnal mammal species found both in forests and urban areas, are protected animals.

Known for its ability to adapt to all kinds of habitats, the animal is widely found in South and Southeast Asia. The Asian Palm Civet is a nocturnal mammal usually found near palm groves and fruit-bearing trees.

In Kerala, it is commonly spotted in old houses with tiled roofs as it takes refuge between the roof and the wooden ceiling structure.

Termed harmless by zoologists, it is an omnivore and feeds mostly on fruits and berries and occasionally small mammals and insects. It is known to be most active between dusk and dawn.

Location :

Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India

First Published:

August 20, 2025, 14:14 IST

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