Jaju Babu and Asaf Ali to be the voice of Kerala government in legal battles

KOCHI: In a significant move to strengthen its legal front, senior advocates K. Jaju Babu and T. Asaf Ali have been chosen to be the voice of the state government before the High Court and other judicial bodies. The veteran legal minds have been appointed as the Advocate General (AG) and the Director General of Prosecution (DGP) respectively—a well-deserved recognition of their extensive careers.

Constitutional expert Advocate General K. Jaju Babu

Hailing from Veloor in Kottayam, Adv. K. Jaju Babu is a distinguished legal practitioner specialising in constitutional, educational, labour, and devaswom laws. Notably, he shares a close professional history with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan from the days when the latter was a practising lawyer.

Jaju Babu has a stellar track record of serving as the Standing Counsel for Kerala Governors, including former Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam. While he continued in the role under Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, he later stepped down due to structural differences of opinion. Beyond his sharp legal acumen, he is known for his warm demeanour, vast social circle, and passion for music. He currently heads the Ernakulam-based law firm, Babu & Babu Advocates. He is married to M.U. Vijayalakshmi, a High Court advocate. The couple has two daughters, Vineetha Jishnu and Sangeetha Bipin, who work as engineers in Dallas and Melbourne, respectively.

DGP T. Asaf Ali: Veteran of Criminal Law

Advocate T. Asaf Ali, a native of Kannur, returns for a high-profile second stint as the Director General of Prosecution, having previously held the prestigious post during the Uommen Chandy-led administration. A former president of the Indian Lawyers' Congress, Asaf Ali is highly regarded for his expertise in criminal jurisprudence.

During his earlier tenure as DGP, he spearheaded the nationwide commemoration of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code, an event graced by then-President Pranab Mukherjee. Asaf Ali has been at the forefront of several landmark legal battles, notably representing the aggrieved families in the Mattannur Shuhaib murder and Periya double murder cases to secure CBI investigations. He also successfully championed the cause of Endosulfan victims, fighting for the establishment of a compensation tribunal, and later served on the Justice Ramachandran Nair Commission to evaluate its framework. He is married to A.P. Mumthas, a retired Higher Secondary School Principal. Their children are Monis Raza, an IT engineer in Bengaluru, and Dr. Muhammad Sabir, based in London.