Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.
Articles by Ramesh Babu
‘Miscarriage of justice’: Uproar mounts on court order
Widespread outrage continued in Kerala on Saturday, a day after a Kottayam court acquitted Roman Catholic bishop Franco Mulakkal of charges of repeatedly raping a nun
Published on Jan 16, 2022 12:43 AM IST
{Kerala nun rape case} Outrage mounts over acquittal; activists launch online campaign
The nun had alleged Mullakal had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016; the Kottayam court said the victim’s statements were contradictory and corroborative evidences were missing
Published on Jan 15, 2022 10:25 PM IST
Bishop Franco acquitted in Kerala nun rape case
The unexpected verdict sparked a wave of condemnation, with supporters of the victim saying they will move the high court
Updated on Jan 14, 2022 11:39 PM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala nun rape: unusual case that witnessed many twists and turns
Earlier many priests have faced sexual harassment and assault charges from believers, but this is the first time one from the ordained flock turned against the powerful diocese head attracting widespread attention.
Published on Jan 14, 2022 06:55 PM IST
‘Pity that vice chancellor can’t write two sentences properly’: Kerala governor
Kerala University vice chancellor Prof. Mahadevan Pillai’s handwritten letter to governor revealed sthat the V-C, instead of convening a meeting of the university Syndicate meeting to decide on the governor’s suggestion, “discussed” it with some the university Syndicate members and told the governor that the University Syndicate had turned down the proposal.
Published on Jan 10, 2022 04:54 PM IST
Abandoned tiger cub develops cataract, rewilding prospects hit
The forest department is planning to import a drug from the United States called Lanosterol, which experts said can help dissolve the cataract to an extent
Published on Jan 10, 2022 12:27 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala actor’s abduction, assault case drags on
The Kerala actor abduction and assault case saw two special public prosecutors resign, 38 witnesses turned hostile, and prosecution moved higher courts, seeking a change of the trial judge
Published on Jan 06, 2022 12:41 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala: Vijayan announces relief package for those facing losses due to K-Rail
Congress, the main Opposition party in the state of Kerala, and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been opposing the rail project
Updated on Jan 04, 2022 04:32 PM IST
18 years and fighting: HIV-infected Kerala mother seeks job for her educated children
Her children were thrown out of their school but she fought back and ensured education to her children at the same school
Published on Jan 03, 2022 12:23 AM IST
Year that was: Left’s hold continues; nature’s fury returns in Kerala
This year saw the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) making history in the April assembly election by retaining power in Kerala that usually boots out the incumbent
Updated on Dec 30, 2021 12:45 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala high-speed rail: CPI expresses concern, PCC warns Tharoor to mend his ways
Two weeks back when 17 MPs from the state wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav urging him not to give clearance to the high-speed project ‘K Rail,’ Tharoor abstained from it saying he needed more time to study the project. But he made it clear that not signing the letter does not mean that he supported the project.
Published on Dec 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
Row over K Rail intensifies as CPI expresses concern
The ₹63,490-crore K-rail project aims at developing a high-speed rail network, connecting north Kerala’s Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in the south.
Published on Dec 27, 2021 12:11 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Differently abled man in Kerala overcomes hurdles to help needy during Covid
Since 2019, Salim is the most sought after person in Ranni town of Pathanamthitta district, where he has helped more than 2,000 Covid patients reach the hospital in the past two years.
Updated on Dec 23, 2021 12:37 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Plea to remove PM photo from jab certificate dismissed. HC orders ₹1 lakh fine
The Kerala high court said the petition to remove PM Modi’s photo from the vaccine certificates was a publicity-oriented petition. “...and I have a strong doubt that there is political agenda,” the judge ruled
Updated on Dec 21, 2021 01:10 PM IST
‘Appeasement politics’: MoS Home Nityanand Rai raps Kerala govt on twin murders
The minister rushed to the state to pay homage to Sreenivasan who was hacked to death in his home in Alappuzha on Sunday
Updated on Dec 20, 2021 08:59 PM IST
Third generation Kerala craftsmen keep tradition of ‘Nettur petti’ alive
Craftsmen have no idea how Nettur petti got its name. “It is also known as Malabar petti, and we feel it might have imbibed the name from a village along the Malabar coast,” Suresh said.
Published on Dec 20, 2021 12:18 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Murders of SDPI, BJP leaders spark tension in Kerala’s Alappuzha, curfew imposed
The authorities have detained at least 50 people in connection with the killings of SDPI and BJP leaders in Kerala’s Alappuzha.
Updated on Dec 20, 2021 02:28 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Two political murders in 12 hours shock Kerala
The SDPI leader was attacked while he was returning home in Mannacherry on his scooter. Assailants who came in a car first hit the two-wheeler and when he fell down they stabbed him repeatedly, police said. The BJP leader was attacked on Sunday morning while he was coming out of his house for a morning stroll.
Published on Dec 19, 2021 04:26 PM IST
Two political murders in under 12 hours shock Kerala
Two state-level leaders of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were killed in an apparent retaliatory attack in Alappuzha on Sunday, police said
Updated on Dec 19, 2021 10:05 AM IST
Metro Man Sreedharan retires from active politics
When asked whether he was leaving the arena in disgust, Sreedharan said when he joined the BJP in March 2021, there were enough chances for the party, but the situation is different now.
Published on Dec 17, 2021 12:41 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala: No trace of tiger on prowl in Kerala, villagers launch stir
State forest minister A K Saseendran, who called a special meeting in the state capital on Thursday, said the government would do everything possible to alleviate the fear and agony of the villagers.
Published on Dec 17, 2021 12:38 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
‘Metro Man’ Sreedharan makes surprise exit from active politics
Asked if he was leaving politics due to any regrets, E Sreedharan said that when he joined the BJP in March, he felt the party had good prospects in Kerala but that situation has now changed
Published on Dec 16, 2021 04:06 PM IST
Kerala’s ambitious unisex uniform plan in schools runs into rough weather
Protestors, however, insisted that the move was anti-democratic and an encroachment on women’s right to wear anything they wished.
Published on Dec 16, 2021 01:14 AM IST
Muslim outfits oppose Kerala’s unisex school uniform
The new uniform pattern was introduced in higher classes, class 10 onwards, and state higher education minister R Bindu inaugurated the event.
Published on Dec 16, 2021 01:00 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Govt gives nod to HLL disinvestment process, workers oppose move
The HLL Lifecare, which played a key role in India’s family planning programme in the 1970s manufacturing condoms branded Nirodh, forayed into other contraceptive, hospital supplies and women’s healthcare products starting from the 1990s, according to the company website.
Updated on Dec 15, 2021 12:24 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram
Don’t intend to take over guv’s post as chancellor of universities: Kerala CM
CM Pinarayi Vijayan said Governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s recent outbursts over ‘political interference’ in the appointment of vice-chancellors were ‘unfortunate’
Published on Dec 13, 2021 12:14 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Kerala governor slams ‘political appointments’ in varsities
Talking to HT from New Delhi days after he wrote a strongly worded letter to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Khan said he was really “pained” over the dipping standard of higher educational centres and blamed the “brazen political interference” as main reason for this.
Published on Dec 12, 2021 12:21 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Dresses for free: Meet the man behind a wedding-wear bank in Kerala
Nasar Thootha invites people to donate ensembles that they aren’t realistically going to reuse. He then offers the outfits free, to brides-to-be who need them. He has 800 outfits and counting, in a store he now rents for the purpose. ‘Most brides offer to return the clothes, but I say keep them, pass them on,’ he says.
Updated on Dec 11, 2021 11:38 AM IST
Kerala Opposition mounts attack over high speed rail project
People familiar with the development said the government has also started a crackdown on protesters who disrupted survey and other works of the project. Police said around 100 people have been booked in four districts in north Kerala so far
Updated on Dec 11, 2021 12:23 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Opposition against high speed rail project gains momentum in Kerala
The CPI(M) is planning to portray it as a struggle between development and anti-development forces in the state. Though the project is yet to get environmental clearance and the Union railway ministry’s nod the government is surging ahead with the project.
Published on Dec 10, 2021 05:51 PM IST