Beats of an old custom fade away from Keralam’s courts
Following a campaign by a rights activist, High Court’s Rules Committee decides to remove provision for the 'tom-tom' and 'kinnam mutti vilambaram' used to inform the public about property attachment proceedings. The tradition, which goes back to the days of princely rule, survived the colonial period and is still prevalent in some courts. In 2016, tom-tom charges were increased from ₹15 to ₹100
The HinduPublished: 28 September 2026
Following a campaign by a rights activist, High Court’s Rules Committee decides to remove provision for the 'tom-tom' and 'kinnam mutti vilambaram' used to inform the public about property attachment proceedings. The tradition, which goes back to the days of princely rule, survived the colonial period and is still prevalent in some courts. In 2016, tom-tom charges were increased from ₹15 to ₹100
