Karnataka High Court Judgments & Legal News

Karnataka High Court

Karnataka High Court Flags Misuse of Section 69 BNS to Criminalise Consensual Relationships

The Karnataka High Court cautioned against the growing misuse of Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, to criminalise consensual sexual relationships after breakups.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed that such cases are “mushrooming” before the Court, where allegations of false promise of marriage are invoked once relationships sour.

Granting interim relief, the Court stayed investigation and ordered the accused’s release from custody, noting that the relationship appeared consensual.

It also expressed concern over routine arrests in such cases merely because the offence carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

Read Details / 7 hours ago

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Karnataka High Court Grants Interim Protection to Ranveer Singh in ‘Daiva’ Mimicry Case

The Karnataka High Court directed police not to take coercive steps against actor Ranveer Singh till March 2 in a case alleging he hurt religious sentiments by mimicking a sacred “daiva” tradition at the International Film Festival of India.

Justice M Nagaprasanna asked Singh to cooperate with the probe and observed that public figures must exercise restraint while referring to deities and regional traditions. The actor has sought the quashing of criminal proceedings initiated on a private complaint.

The complaint alleges that Singh crudely mimicked the divine expressions of Panjurli/Guliga Daiva while praising Rishab Shetty and his film Kantara: Chapter 1.

The Court issued notice to police and sought objections, while granting interim protection subject to cooperation with investigation.

Read Details / a day ago

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Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against WinZo Games in PAN Misuse Case

The Karnataka High Court quashed an FIR against WinZo Games for alleged cheating and PAN card misuse. A woman claimed her PAN details were stolen and used on the gaming app.

Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed the plea and said the quashment does not affect other accused or cases.

WinZo had urged the woman to file a complaint, which led to the FIR under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly Section 420 of IPC) and Section 66(c) and Section 66(d) of the Information Technology Act.

The court had earlier stayed the probe and and has now directed WinZo to give its statement.

[Winzo Games Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Karnataka]

5 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Grants Interim Stay on Assault FIR Arising from Dog Incident

The Karnataka High Court stayed a probe into an FIR against seven people for assaulting a neighbor. The fight started when the neighbor's dog chased and tried to bite the complainant on his scooter.

Justice M Nagaprasanna granted an interim stay till the complainant appears. The court humorously asked, "Which dog? Who let the dogs out?" and noted a settlement attempt.

The FIR was under BNS sections for BNS Sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons/ means), 352 (insults designed to provoke a breach of peace), 291(negligent conduct with respect to animals), 189 (unlawful assembly) and 190(common object).

The matter is listed on March 12 with a condition not to let the dog out.

[Mr. C Munikrishna v. The State of Karnataka]

Read Details / 5 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Reduces Jail Term in ATM Card Duplication Case, Enhances Fine to ₹2 Lakh Each

The Karnataka High Court modified the sentence of two men convicted of stealing and duplicating ATM cards and withdrawing money from victims’ accounts.

While upholding their conviction under Section 66(c) of the Information Technology Act 2000 and Sections 380 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code 1860, the Court reduced their imprisonment to the 41 days already undergone and enhanced the fine to ₹2 lakh each.

Observing that criminal justice should have a reformative focus, the Court noted that they were first-time offenders.

It directed that compensation be paid to the victims and ordered the convicts to surrender if the fine is not deposited within the stipulated time.

[SahadevaPrasad urf. Prasad & Anr. v. The State of Karnataka]

Read Order / 6 days ago

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Karnataka High Court: Unproven Affair Allegation Can be Mental Cruelty, No Divorce for Desertion

The Karnataka HC held that accusing a wife of an extra-marital affair without proof can amount to mental cruelty and refused to grant divorce on the ground of desertion.

The case arose from a husband’s appeal against a family court order rejecting his petition under Section 13(1)(b) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

The Court observed that desertion requires proof of separation without reasonable cause and intention to abandon the marriage. It found that the husband failed to establish animus to desert or substantiate the alleged affair.

It held that unproven allegations may justify living apart rather than amount to desertion. The appeal was dismissed.

Read Details / 7 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Quashes Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi

The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal defamation proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the “40% commission” advertisements targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav held that allowing the case to proceed would amount to an abuse of the process of law and set aside the proceedings against Gandhi.

The complaint, filed by a BJP leader, alleged that Congress leaders spread false claims that the then BJP-led State government was charging 40% commission in public works.

Gandhi had earlier been granted bail by a Magistrate court in 2024.

Read Details / 8 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Says Person Can be Lingayat by Religion and Ganiga by Caste

The Karnataka High Court dismissed a plea challenging the caste validity certificate of a Police Sub-Inspector selected under the Lingayat-Ganiga category.

The Court held that Lingayat and Ganiga identities are not mutually exclusive and that a person may be Lingayat by religious affiliation and Ganiga by caste classification.

It said caste identity must be determined based on cumulative and consistent documentary evidence, and paternal school records are not conclusive proof.

Finding no fraud and noting the officer’s long service, the Court upheld the validity of his appointment under the Other Backward Classes category.

[TN Jagadeesh v. Chairman Deputy Commissioner]

Read order / 8 days ago

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Supreme Court Dismisses Appeals in Actress Prathyusha Death Case, Upholds Abetment Conviction

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed appeals in the 23-year-old death case of Telugu/Tamil actress Prathyusha, ruling out allegations of murder and rape.

A Bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan held that consistent eyewitness accounts and medical evidence established death by poisoning. The Court noted that Prathyusha and her boyfriend, Gudipalli Siddhartha Reddy, had consumed poison amid opposition to their relationship, though Reddy survived.

Rejecting the defence of accidental intake, the Court found Reddy guilty of abetment to suicide for procuring the poison and directed him to surrender within four weeks.

It also termed the postmortem conducted by Dr. Muni Swamy unprofessional.

[Gudipalli Siddharta Reddy v. State (C.B.I.)]

Read Details / 9 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Dismisses PIL Seeking Disbanding of Railway Tatkal System

The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking directions to disband the existing Tatkal and emergency quota schemes for railway ticket bookings.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha dismissed the plea after none appeared for the petitioner when the matter was called for hearing.

The petition, filed by Gowrishankar S, challenged the validity of the schemes on the ground that they were introduced through executive orders without legislative sanction under the Railways Act. It also sought reforms in ticket cancellation and refund rules.

However, in the absence of representation, the Court simply recorded, “None appears for the petitioner, dismissed,” and rejected the plea.

[Gowrishankar S v. UOI]

13 days ago

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Karnataka High Court: Mother has No Inheritance Right if Son Dies Intestate Leaving Wife And Children

The Karnataka High Court held that when a son dies intestate leaving behind a wife and children, his mother has no right to inherit under Sections 32 and 33 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

The Court set aside a trial court order that had refused a succession certificate to the deceased’s wife and children on the ground that the mother was also a legal heir.

It held that if a widow and lineal descendants survive, the estate devolves upon them, and the mother is excluded.

The matter arose from a plea seeking transmission of shares held by the deceased.

[Mrs. Estrida Lucy Janet Vaz & Ors. v. Nil]

Read Judgement / 13 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Confirms Death Penalty for Three Convicts in Minor Girl Gang Rape and Murder Case

The Karnataka High Court upheld a trial court’s 2024 order awarding the death penalty to three men convicted for the gang rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl, terming the crime “barbaric” and a “rarest of rare” case.

The Court held that the brutality of the offence, the age and vulnerability of the victim, and the manner in which the crime was executed outweighed any mitigating factors such as the age of the accused.

Observing that a lesser sentence would undermine societal conscience and justice, the Court dismissed the convicts’ appeals and confirmed the death sentence.

[The Registrar General v. Jayban Adivasi @ Jay Singh & Ors.]

Read Details / 16 days ago

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Express Recital for Maintenance under Senior Citizens Act Not Mandatory in Gift Deeds: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that an express recital in a gift deed regarding maintenance liability under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 is not mandatory for enforcement of maintenance.

The Court observed that where a transferee accepts immovable property through a valid gift deed, the legal obligation to maintain a senior citizen can arise from the overall transaction and conduct of the parties, even in the absence of an explicit clause.

The ruling clarifies that the purpose of the Act is to ensure maintenance of senior citizens and need not be defeated by insisting on formal recital in the deed itself.

Read order / 16 days ago

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Service Tax on Ocean Freight in CIF Imports is Illegal: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that service tax cannot be levied on ocean freight for imports made on a CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis, as such transactions fall outside the scope of the Finance Act, 1994.

The Court ruled that transportation services under CIF contracts are rendered and consumed outside India, making them extraterritorial in nature.

It struck down Notifications No. 15/2017-ST and 16/2017-ST to the extent they sought to impose service tax on importers under the reverse charge mechanism.

Holding that an importer under a CIF contract is neither the service provider nor the recipient, the Court quashed the tax demand and allowed liberty to seek a refund, subject to unjust enrichment principles.

Read order / 17 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Grants Relief to Winzo Employees, Directs Salary Payments

The Karnataka High Court has directed that the salaries of employees of online gaming platform Winzo be paid despite the Enforcement Directorate freezing the bank accounts of its subsidiary, Zo, under the PMLA.

While holding that the legality of the account freeze must be challenged before the PMLA adjudicating authority, the Court emphasised that employees’ livelihoods cannot be paralysed in the meantime.

It ordered the ED to permit limited account operations solely for salary disbursement after verification.

The Court noted that the business was prima facie lawful and employees were on the rolls prior to ED action.

[Zo v. ED]

Read Details / 20 days ago

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