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Karnataka High Court Strikes Down Rule Allowing Direct Complaints to Human Rights Courts
Karnataka High Court Strikes Down Rule Allowing Direct Complaints to Human Rights Courts

The Karnataka High Court has struck down Rule 6 of the Karnataka State Human Rights Courts Rules, 2006, which permitted victims to directly file private complaints before designated Sessions Courts as Human Rights Courts, bypassing mandatory inquiry by the Human Rights Commission. 

The Court found the Rule unconstitutional and ultra vires the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Court observed this bypass disrupts the legislative scheme and violates Section 41 of the Act. 

The Court emphasized that the Act doesn’t envisage direct access to courts, unlike statutes with stand-alone offences. The ruling will have a prospective effect only.

[Vijay Mahantesh Mathapati & Others v State of Karnataka & Anr]

Read Order / 2 days ago

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The News Minute Moves Karnataka HC Against Dharmasthala Gag Orders
The News Minute Moves Karnataka HC Against Dharmasthala Gag Orders

Spunklane Media, which runs The News Minute (TNM), has approached the Karnataka High Court challenging two ex parte gag orders restraining it from reporting on the Sowjanya rape-murder case and the Dharmasthala temple issue.

The March 22 and July 18 orders were issued by Bengaluru courts without notice, allegedly violating TNM’s Article 19 rights. TNM argued that the orders lacked legal justification and amounted to prior restraint on factual reporting.

Referring to the Kudla Rampage case, where a similar gag order was struck down, TNM has sought similar relief and quashing of the orders.

[Spunklanc Media Pvt Ltd v Ilarshcndra Kumar D & Ors.]

Read Details / 4 days ago

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“Are You Banning Bike Taxis Deliberately?” Karnataka HC Asks State as Rapido Defends Aggregators’ Role
“Are You Banning Bike Taxis Deliberately?” Karnataka HC Asks State as Rapido Defends Aggregators’ Role

The Karnataka High Court questioned whether the ongoing ban on bike taxis was a conscious policy decision by the State, during appeals filed by Ola, Uber, Rapido and others.

The petitions challenge a single judge’s April ruling that bike taxis cannot operate without specific rules under the Motor Vehicles Act. Senior Advocate Uday Holla, appearing for Rapido, argued that bike taxis support commuters and aggregators enhance safety and regulation.

The Court criticised the State’s blanket reliance on the MV Act, calling it a “thin” argument, and noted that several other states allow bike taxis under the same framework.

4 days ago

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Karnataka High Court sets 90-day deadline to decide all compassionate job applications
Karnataka High Court sets 90-day deadline to decide all compassionate job applications

The Karnataka High Court directed the State to decide all compassionate appointment applications within 90 days from receipt. The case involved a widow whose timely application for her son was denied due to administrative delay.

The Court held that compassionate appointments are welfare measures requiring procedural fairness and transparency. Authorities must acknowledge applications within 30 days, assist widows and illiterate applicants and also issue reasoned orders for rejections.

The Court ordered the State to create a Standard Operating Procedure and train staff. The petitioner’s son must be appointed within 8 weeks.

[State of Karnataka & Anr. v Mahaboob Patel]

Read Details / 4 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Quashes Corruption Case Against BESCOM Contract Driver
Karnataka High Court Quashes Corruption Case Against BESCOM Contract Driver

The Karnataka High Court quashed a corruption case against a BESCOM driver who was accused of placing a bag containing ₹10 lakh bribe money in a car.

The Court observed that the driver, just 40 days into his job, was simply following orders from his superior and had no involvement in demanding or accepting the bribe.

The bribe was linked solely to the Chief General Manager.

Noting insufficient evidence in the complaint and trap panchanama, the Court ruled the prosecution against the driver as unfair and unwarranted.

[Murali Krishna R AND State of Karnataka]

Read Details / 5 days ago

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Karnataka HC Recommends Amending MV Act So Insurers Can Avoid Liability in Drunk‑Driving Cases
Karnataka HC Recommends Amending MV Act So Insurers Can Avoid Liability in Drunk‑Driving Cases

The Karnataka High Court urged both the Central and State governments to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to allow insurers to avoid liability in cases involving drunken driving, stating that intoxication should be treated as a criminal deterrent, not a compensation trigger.

While the Court upheld a tribunal-ordered award of ₹2,59,000 with interest, it clarified that under Section 149, insurers can only be absolved in limited circumstances, not mere drunk driving.

The High Court ordered compensation, then allowed the insurer to recover it from the vehicle owner. Justice Umesh M. Adiga stressed that allowing insurers' liability may inadvertently encourage drinking and driving. 

[Oriental Insurance Co Ltd v Pratik Kumar Tripathy & Anr.]

8 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Lifts Gag Order on Media Reporting in Dharmasthala Burial Case
Karnataka High Court Lifts Gag Order on Media Reporting in Dharmasthala Burial Case

The Karnataka High Court on August 1 set aside a Bengaluru trial court’s order that restrained the media from reporting on the Dharmasthala burial case. 

Justice M Nagaprasanna allowed a plea filed by YouTube channel Kudla Rampage, which had challenged the ex parte injunction that barred coverage allegedly defaming the Dharmasthala temple family.

The High Court sent the matter back to the trial court for fresh consideration, directing it to decide the issue swiftly.

The gag was initially imposed after Veerendra Heggade’s brother cited reputational harm over reports involving mass burials allegedly revealed by a sanitation worker. All other issues remain open.

Read Details / 8 days ago

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Bengaluru Court Convicts MP Prajwal Revanna For Repeated Rape And Filming Domestic Worker
Bengaluru Court Convicts MP Prajwal Revanna For Repeated Rape And Filming Domestic Worker

A Bengaluru court convicted suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna for repeatedly raping his domestic worker and filming the acts.

Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat held him guilty under IPC Sections 376(2)(k), 376(2)(n), 354A, 354B, 354C, 506, 201, and Section 66E of the IT Act.

The survivor alleged assaults since 2021, during the COVID lockdown. Revanna fled to Germany in 2024 amid outrage over leaked videos and was arrested upon return. 

His discharge plea was rejected earlier. The SIT charge-sheeted him in August 2024. Sentencing will be pronounced on August 2, 2025.

Read Details / 9 days ago

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Karnataka High Court: Director Can’t Be Disqualified Under Section 164(2) For Over 5 Years
Karnataka High Court: Director Can’t Be Disqualified Under Section 164(2) For Over 5 Years

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the disqualification of a company director under Section 164(2) of the Companies Act, 2013, cannot extend beyond five years. The Court clarified that the statute does not permit any extension of the disqualification period.

The court held that once five years had lapsed from the date of default, the director cannot remain disqualified, as authorities lack the power to prolong the disqualification term. 

The Court relied on the plain language of Section 164(2), stating that “restriction can only be for a period of five years.” 

The petition challenging this interpretation was dismissed.

[Dilipraj Pukkella & Anr v UOI & Ors.]

Read Order / 9 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against Man for Sharing Cow Shooting Video on Whatsapp Group
Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against Man for Sharing Cow Shooting Video on Whatsapp Group

The Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings against Vivek Kariappa C.K., who had shared a video of an alleged cow shooting on WhatsApp along with a message condemning the act.

The Court found that sharing and then deleting the video did not meet the requirements for charges under Section 153 IPC, which deals with provocation to cause riots. 

Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar emphasised the absence of any intent to provoke violence or public disorder and observed no evidence of public unrest or an aggrieved party. 

The Court held that pursuing the case would amount to a miscarriage of justice.

[Vivek Kariappa C.K. v State of Karnataka]

Judgement Copy / 10 days ago

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Karnataka HC: Compensation Can’t Be Denied Merely Due to Contributory Negligence or Expired Licence
Karnataka HC: Compensation Can’t Be Denied Merely Due to Contributory Negligence or Expired Licence

The Karnataka High Court ruled that a motor accident victim’s family cannot be denied compensation solely because the driver’s licence had expired at the time of the accident. 

Justice Dr Chillakur Sumalatha emphasised that compensation should be just and reasonable, and technicalities should not override justice.

The Court held that expired licences don’t negate liability if the driver was otherwise competent and licensed at some point.

The Court ordered the insurer to pay the awarded amount and recover its share from the driver if fault is shared. 

[Shivegowda v Nanjeshgowda & Anr]

Read Order / 11 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Affirms Right to Dependency Compensation Regardless of Cohabitation
Karnataka High Court Affirms Right to Dependency Compensation Regardless of Cohabitation

The Karnataka High Court has held that cohabitation is not a necessary condition for a spouse to claim compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act.  

Justice Ravi V. Hosmani allowed an appeal filed by Ningappa, stating that the onus lies on the insurance company to prove that the spouses were living separately, and not on the claimant to prove cohabitation.

The Court found no evidence that the deceased, Yallawwa, was living apart from her husband, or that she had lost dependency due to remarriage or infertility. The Court called the tribunal's earlier denial of compensation unlawful.

Applying the 2021 notional income chart, the Court awarded over ₹14.9 lakh with 6% annual interest from the claim's filing date.

Read Details / 12 days ago

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Karnataka HC Directs NLSIU to Place Transgender Reservation Issue Before Executive Council
Karnataka HC Directs NLSIU to Place Transgender Reservation Issue Before Executive Council

The Karnataka High Court has directed NLSIU to place the issue of providing 0.5% reservation and fee waiver for transgender persons before its Executive Council, which is expected to meet in August or September.

The direction came during an appeal by NLSIU against a single bench order mandating temporary reservation until a state policy is framed.

NLSIU argued that a reservation can't be imposed without scientific data, but agreed to consider the matter non-adversarially.

The petitioner also sought admission and financial aid under the 2017 Karnataka State Policy on Transgenders. The matter will be heard again in October.

12 days ago

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Bengaluru Court Jails ED Officer for Accepting Bribe, Extortion in Chinese Loan App Case
Bengaluru Court Jails ED Officer for Accepting Bribe, Extortion in Chinese Loan App Case

A special CBI court in Bengaluru has sentenced former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Lalit Bazad to three years in prison for demanding a ₹50 lakh bribe and accepting ₹5 lakh to defreeze a company’s bank account in the Chinese loan apps probe.

The court found Bazad guilty of bribery and extortion while serving in the ED’s Bengaluru office and imposed a fine of ₹5.5 lakh.

Bazad threatened Apollo Finvest with false implication and prolonged legal harassment unless they paid the bribe.

The two jail terms will run concurrently. The CBI arrested Bazad in 2021 as part of a bribery investigation.

[The State by CBI & ACB v Sri Lalit Bazad]

Read Order / 13 days ago

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Karnataka High Court Upholds Validity of Posthumous Will Registration, Clarifies No Presumption of Fraud
Karnataka High Court Upholds Validity of Posthumous Will Registration, Clarifies No Presumption of Fraud

The Karnataka High Court ruled that registering a Will posthumously is legally valid under Sections 23 and 27 of the Registration Act, 1908, and does not by itself suggest fraud. 

The High Court overturned the trial court’s order that doubted a Will’s authenticity solely due to its registration six months after the testator’s death. 

The High Court clarified that Wills can be registered at any time without a statutory time limit, and their validity depends on proper execution and attestation, not the timing of registration. 

The court emphasized that the genuineness of a Will should be assessed through evidence during trial, not at the interlocutory stage, and restored a balanced status quo over the disputed property.

Order Copy / 14 days ago

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