Born in N Parur (1939) Kerala, India. Justice Kurup had his primary education there followed by graduation in Chemistry from the Secret Heart College, Thevara and Law Degree from the Govt. Law College and Post Graduation in Law from the University Law Centre, Ernakulam. He started practice in 1964 under the late Panampilly Govinda Menon former Chief Minister and Union Cabinet Minister and later joint Menon and Pai, a leading lawyers firm in India. In recognition of his talents he was appointed as senior counsel for the State and counsel for the Central Government simultaneously in the High Court of Kerala. He also served as part time professor of law in the Govt. Law College Ernakulam. His elevation to the Kerala Hight Court Bench in 1992, witnessed judicial activism at his pinnacle culminating in the landmark and historic verdict that he wrote for the Division Bench banning smoking in public places.

Justice Kurup needs no special introduction. He became internationally famous as a cult figure in the crusade against tobacco in the light of the landmark judgment that he wrote for the Division Bench of the High Court of Kerala banning smoking in public places. Though there are legislations and executive orders in various countries on public smoking, the judgment penned by Justice Kurup is the first ever-judicial initiative in the world that has the uniqueness of addressing the menace of public puffing coupled with a ban on smoking in public places. The judgment has served as an eye-opener and trendsetter not only for India but also for the whole world. The judgment is a treatise of law and medicine, which has been widely hailed world-over. Imbibing the spirit of the judgment the Parliament of India has passed a comprehensive law (2003) banning smoking in public places. In tune with the judgment Comity of Nations numbering 181 met in Geneva in 2003 and took a unanimous decision to enact legislations curbing public smoking in their respective countries. In England smoking in bars, pubs, restaurants and other public places have been banned w.e.f. January 2007. In the United States, all public buildings, including restaurants and bars are smoke free because second hand smoke is seen as threat to public health as highlighted in the judgment. Taking cue from the judgment Italy, Greece, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bhutan and China to name a few have intensified the drive against smoking. In Qatar Justice Kurup was specially invited and honoured with the Humanity Service Award by the Anti-Smoking Society and the Ministry of Public Health for his outstanding contributions in the field of public health that has a universal appeal. The United Nations honoured the jurist by inviting him as advisor to the Global Convention on Tobacco Control, Amman, Jordan in February 2001, first ever to a judge based on a judgment. The citation hails the judgment as ‘a unique contribution by the Indian Judiciary to protect human rights to health in developing countries’. In this connection it may be recalled that imbibing the spirit of the judgment smoking was prohibited by FIFA at the World Cup Football venue, 2002

In short, this historic verdict produced a global fallout saving millions of innocent and unsuspecting passive smokers from the menace of second hand smoke. It vindicated the ‘voice of the voiceless’, namely; the passive smokers and paved the way for opening the doors of intervention worldwide in the crusade against tobacco. Public places such as hotels, restaurants, cinemas, auditoriums, public offices, stadiums etc. to name a few have been liberated from the vicious effects of lethal tobacco smoke. Being informed of the dangers of the lethal leaf several thousands have kicked the habit of smoking. Newspaper reports show the global sale of cigarettes has drastically come down. This versatile judge could achieve what the United Nations and the WHO could not realize over the years in spite of shelling out millions of dollars by one stroke of his pen. This is no mean achievement. Justice Kurup’s contributions to the humanity in the field of public health by judicially and with innovation addressing itself to the hazards of passive smoking (Environmental Tobacco Smoke ETS) is perhaps the most monumental one ever made by any non-medical person in the annals of history. Generations unborn will cherish this classic verdict as a priceless legacy of a humane judge to the health and well being of millions of people around the world. Justice Kurup has to his credit many activities that hit at the very root of many a social evil. A jurist of immense wisdom, clarity of thought and universal concern to the well being of humanity he fought for many public causes during his tenure on the Bench and even after demitting office. Justice Kurup is one of the rare breeds of jurists who have shown the grit to fight for what he thought right and good for the humanity.

Even after demitting office the Jurist is relentlessly pursuing his anti-tobacco campaign through selective public appearances and debates.

He is currently Chairman of the National Wage Boards for Print Media.