Karnataka High Court Judgments & Legal News

Karnataka High Court

Karnataka High Court Issues Notice to Google on Plea by Sri Lankan Judge over Defamatory Articles

The Karnataka High Court issued notice to Google and two Sri Lankan news outlets on a plea filed by Justice AHM Dilip Nawaz, a judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, seeking the removal of allegedly defamatory online articles.

The petition claims the reports falsely linked him to a criminal offence and continue to appear in search results despite the case being dismissed.

He invoked his right to reputation and the “right to be forgotten” under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The Court, hearing the matter before Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, directed notices to the respondents and scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing on March 16.

Read Details / 4 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Stays Criminal Case Against Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Over Facebook Post

The Karnataka High Court stayed criminal proceedings against Deputy CM DK Shivakumar concerning a 2024 Facebook post allegedly containing morphed and provocative content against BJP leaders.

The Court passed the interim order on a plea to quash the FIR, which was registered following a private complaint.

The post, appearing on the INC Karnataka page, allegedly featured BJP leaders holding placards with altered text during protests related to the 1992 Ayodhya riots case.

The complaint alleged the post aimed to promote enmity and tarnish the image of senior leaders. The Court has now sought a response from the State regarding the matter.

[D.K. Shivakumar v. State of Karnataka & Anr.]

Read Details / 4 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Halts Probe Against Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Reserves Order in Land Encroachment Case

The Karnataka High Court reserved its judgment on a petition filed by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar seeking to quash an FIR regarding alleged encroachment of government land in Bengaluru.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) registered the case following a PIL alleging unauthorized construction on public land and storm water drains.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that no specific allegations exist against him and that he neither owns nor encroached upon the land in question.

Conversely, the State maintained that investigation should proceed. The Court extended the existing stay on the investigation until the final disposal of the petition.

[Sri Sri Ravi Shankar v. State of Karnataka & Anr.]

Read Details / 5 days ago

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Human Dignity Doesn't Cease at Prison Gates: Karnataka HC Issues Guidelines on Home-Cooked Food for Inmates

The Karnataka High Court quashed a trial court order that had permitted home-cooked food for actress Pavithra Gowda and others accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

The Court observed that while human dignity must be protected within prisons, such concessions cannot be granted as a "matter of indulgence" without prior medical examination.

Emphasizing that indiscriminate grants could lead to administrative chaos. To ensure transparency, the Bench directed the digital publication of prison menus and the establishment of a formal food quality complaint mechanism.

Accused were granted liberty to file fresh petitions, provided they are supported by medical necessity and adhere to rules.

[State of Karnataka v. Smt. Pavithra Gowda & Ors.]

Read Details / 5 days ago

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Penalty for Delay in Compensation Must be Paid by Employer, Not Insurance Company: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled that an employer must personally pay the penalty for delaying compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923, even if the compensation amount is covered by insurance.

The Court clarified that the penalty under Section 4A(3)(b) arises from the employer’s own default and cannot be shifted to the insurance company.

The case arose after an employee died in a work-related accident and compensation was not paid within the statutory period.

While the insurer may pay compensation and interest, the Court held that the penalty must be borne by the employer to ensure timely payment and maintain the deterrent purpose of the law.

Read Details / 5 days ago

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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 / 13 days 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 / 14 days 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]

18 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 / 18 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 / 19 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 / 20 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 / 21 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 / 21 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 / 22 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]

26 days ago

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