Karnataka High Court – Artifex.News

Karnataka High Court refuses to quash case against married man accused of abetting nursing student’s suicide.

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:33:00 +0000

A view of the High Court of Karnataka

The High Court of Karnataka has refused to quash criminal proceedings against a married man accused of abetting a 22-year-old woman’s suicide by repeatedly stalking and threatening her, and sabotaging her marriage prospects by allegedly claiming to prospective grooms that he was in a relationship with her. She had survived a previous suicide attempt triggered by his harassment.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna rejected a petition by Naveen G., who is facing charges under Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking), and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It was alleged that the 33-year-old petitioner tried to compel the victim, a nursing student, to forcibly fall in love with him, followed to her workplace, and compelled her to travel on his motorcycle on a few occasion. He had proposed to marry and threatening to disclose photographs of her with him if she rejected his proposal.

After she rejected his proposal, he allegedly sabotaged her marriage proposals by calling those who wanted to marry her. Following these, she attempted to end her life on July 5, 2025, but survived.

Though the woman’s family approached the police for lodging a complaint, it was withdrawn after the intervention of the petitioner’s family who counselled him. However, he continued to harass her, leading her to end her life on July 29.

Pointing out that the necessary ingredients for an offence punishable for abetment to suicide are that there must be instigation, goading and proximity, which leaves the victim with no other option but to commit suicide, the court said that “all the three ingredients are present in the present case.”

“The complaint and the chargesheet, if read as a whole, prima facie depict the deceased being progressively cornered — her refusal allegedly ignored, her privacy threatened, her workplace invaded by pursuit, her matrimonial prospects repeatedly sabotaged and her apprehension that she would not be permitted to lead a life independent of the petitioner allegedly reinforced by his continued conduct,” the court observed, while stating the trial is a must in this case.

Published – August 19, 2026 11:02 pm IST

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Adult unmarried daughter can claim financial support for education from father under DV Act: Karnataka High Court

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:51:00 +0000

A view of the High Court of Karnataka.
| Photo Credit: File photo

Observing that an adult unmarried daughter is entitled to invoke Section 20(d) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, to seek monetary relief from her father for pursuing postgraduation amid her parents’ strained domestic relationship, the Karnataka High Court upheld a trial court order directing a man to pay ₹16 lakh towards the annual fee for his daughter’s PG medical course.

“The obligations of parents to provide basic amenities, healthcare and education cannot be said to be extinguished upon a child attaining majority. It is the custom and practice everywhere in the world that parents are morally obligated to provide basic amenities, including healthcare and education,” the high court observed.

Justice H.P. Sandesh passed the order while dismissing a revision petition filed by a 53-year-old man from Mangaluru. He had challenged two orders — one passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Mangaluru, in February 2026 directing him to pay ₹16 lakh towards his daughter’s course fee, and another passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mangaluru, in April 2026 upholding the magistrate’s order.

The high court noted that the girl’s father and mother were living together when she was pursuing her MBBS course and that it was the father who had paid her fees then. The court further pointed out that all three now live in the same building, with the mother and daughter residing on one floor and the father on another owing to the strained relationship between the couple.

Also, the high court observed that the father had the financial capacity to meet his daughter’s educational expenses, as his income tax returns and bank statements revealed fixed assets worth ₹1.34 crore acquired in 2021 and multiple loans totalling ₹1.27 crore availed between 2021 and 2023. The high court further noted that the daughter had secured an All India Rank of 11,722 and gained admission at a nominal fee compared to the management quota fee of ₹75 lakh per year.

On the father’s contention that the daughter was not entitled to maintenance or educational expenses as she had attained majority, the high court noted that accepting such a contention would render the expression “in addition to”, occurring in Section 20(1)(d) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, otiose.

Citing the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, Justice Sandesh said that it had held that a daughter has an “indefeasible, legally enforceable, lawful and legitimate right to secure educational expenses from her parents” and parents in conflict could be compelled to provide necessary funds for higher education of the daughter within the limit of their financial resources.

Published – July 20, 2026 07:42 pm IST

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Karnataka issues fresh transfer guidelines, caps compulsory waiting period

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, follows a recent Karnataka High Court judgment in the case involving Excise Deputy Commissioner K. Arun Kumar.
| Photo Credit: File photo

The Karnataka government has issued fresh guidelines governing the transfer of State government employees, directing departments to ensure that officials are transferred only after being assigned their next posting. The move is aimed at ending the long-standing practice of keeping employees under compulsory waiting without posting them to a new position.

The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), follows a recent Karnataka High Court judgment in the case involving Excise Deputy Commissioner K. Arun Kumar. The court had held that keeping a government servant under compulsory waiting without assigning a posting was contrary to the law.

High Court’s observations

Referring to the High Court’s observations, the government has clarified that, as a general rule, transfer orders should invariably specify the employee’s next posting. It said this would not only safeguard the rights of government employees but also improve administrative efficiency by avoiding delays in filling vacancies and ensuring continuity of work.

The circular noted that, in certain exceptional situations, immediate posting may not be possible. These include cases involving legal disputes, suspension, allegations of financial irregularities, misuse of official position, or serious departmental proceedings.

In such circumstances, employees should not be kept under compulsory waiting for more than one month.

Exceptional circumstances

The guidelines further stated that only in exceptional circumstances can the compulsory waiting period be extended up to a maximum of three months. Such an extension can be granted only after recording reasons in writing and obtaining the prior approval of the Chief Minister.

Published – July 10, 2026 07:30 pm IST

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Karnataka High Court gives relief to 84 workmen retrenched from service 17 years ago

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:33:00 +0000

A view of the High Court of Karnataka

In a relief to 84 workmen retrenched from service nearly 17 years ago, the High Court of Karnataka has directed a private pharmaceutical company to pay a lump sum compensation of ₹3 lakh to each of the retrenched workmen for terminating them from service without seeking permission from the State government as per the provisions of the Industrial Disputes (ID) Act, 1947.

A Division Bench comprising Justice D.K. Singh and Justice S. Rachaiah passed the order while allowing an appeal filed by retrenched workmen of Karnataka Malladi Biotics Ltd., (also known as Embio Ltd.), Mandya.

The Bench ruled that the company had illegally bypassed mandatory provisions of the ID Act by failing to seek prior government permission before laying off and retrenching 84 workers in 2009, wrongly claiming it employed fewer than 100 persons and was thus exempt from seeking such permission. Both the industrial tribunal and a single judge of the High Court had upheld the retrenchment.

The core dispute centred on whether the pharmaceutical company’s workforce in its Mandya plant, which was later closed, met the statutory threshold of 100 workmen, a prerequisite for invoking Chapter V-B of the ID Act, which mandates prior government approval for lay offs and retrenchment.

The workmen, represented by the Karnataka Malladi Biotics Employees Union, had argued that the management employed 92 permanent workers, 17 security guards and 28 contract/casual labourers, taking the total workforce well above the 100-mark. The company, however, contended that it had only 92 regular employees. The tribunal and the single judge had ruled that security guards and contract labourers could not be counted as “workmen” under Section 2(s) of the ID Act.

Rejecting the company’s claim, the Bench said that “any person employed in an industry to do manual, skilled, technical, or operational work for hire or reward is a workman”, and that the nature of employment — whether temporary, casual, or permanent — is irrelevant. The Bench also pointed out that the direct supervision and administrative control the management exercised over the security guards and contract workers brought them squarely within the statutory definition.

The court also drew an adverse inference against the company for deliberately withholding crucial employment records, including muster rolls and attendance registers of contract labourers, despite a specific order of the tribunal directing their production.

Published – June 04, 2026 11:03 pm IST

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Kantara mimicry: Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh visits Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru

admin — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:31:00 +0000

Film actor Ranveer Singh visited Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru on May 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh visited the Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) and offered apologies to the deity, in keeping with his assurance to the Karnataka High Court.

The Dhurandhar star’s visit to the temple follows his written apology to the High Court for “mocking” the sacred daiva tradition depicted in the film Kantara Chapter-1.

Mr. Singh reached the hill shrine early in the morning before the devotees started arriving. “He came unannounced without intimating us. He came wearing a mask like any ordinary devotee when not many people were around,” said Executive Officer of Chamundeshwari Temple M.J. Roopa.

The actor, who turned up at the shrine around 7.30 a.m., introduced himself to the temple priest Sunil and informed him that he had come to offer apologies to the deity. The priest led him to the Garbha Gudi (sanctum sanctorum), where he offered special prayers, she added.

Mr. Singh left the shrine soon after he finished the prayers. “He had left the premises even before the devotees began showing up,” Ms Roopa added.

Why did Ranveer Singh visit Chamundeshwari Temple?

The controversy relates to remarks allegedly made by the actor at the Filmfare Awards event in Goa while speaking about the film Kantara Chapter-1. He is accused of imitating a Daiva and calling it ‘devil’.

Based on a complaint by a lawyer, who alleged that his religious sentiments were hurt, an FIR was registered against the Dhurandhar actor.

The High Court on May 5, 2026, had quashed the proceedings against Mr. Singh after the actor’s submission of an unconditional apology.

Accepting the revised affidavit submitted by his advocate, the court had directed the actor to visit the Chamundi deity within four weeks. asked to make amends for his conduct.

Published – May 26, 2026 03:06 pm IST

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Consensual Relationships Do Not Grant Licence For Assault: High Court

admin — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:42:39 +0000

Bengaluru:

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that consensual relationships do not grant licence for assault.

The case involves a serving Circle Inspector of Police who was accused by a social worker, also the wife of a police constable, of various crimes including assault and intimidation.

The relationship between the complainant and the accused began in 2017 when she visited the Bhadravathi Rural police station. By May 2021, the complainant lodged a complaint at the Women’s Police Station, alleging she was physically and sexually harassed by the inspector.

The situation escalated when the inspector allegedly threatened to harm her children if she did not withdraw her complaint, leading to additional charges under IPC sections 504 and 506 for insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation respectively.

In November 2021, the inspector reportedly abducted the complainant, took her to a hotel where he assaulted her, and left her at Sagar Bus stop early the next morning. She sought medical attention for her injuries and filed another complaint, accusing him of offenses under various IPC sections including rape, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, attempt to murder, and assault.

The accused contested these allegations, claiming the relationship was consensual from the start and citing his acquittal in a related cheque bounce case under the Negotiable Instruments Act.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, while acknowledging the consensual nature of the relationship, dismissed the charge of repeated rape under section 376(2)(n) but upheld other charges related to assault, intimidation, and attempt to murder.

The court remarked on the “gross misogynist brutality” inflicted upon the complainant, allowing the trial to proceed on these counts.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Karnataka High Court bars ICTPI from enrolling candidates

admin — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 01:13:00 +0000

The High Court of Karnataka restrained Bengaluru-based Institute of Chartered Tax Practitioners India (ICTPI) from enrolling candidates into any course, certifying any person to practise as an income-tax or goods and services tax practitioner and custom broker, etc., till further orders from the court.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the interim order on a petition filed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which has complained that ICTPI is offering courses illegally.

The court specifically restrained the ICTPI from enrolling candidates in Post Graduate Diploma in Taxation, Professional Skill Qualification, Recognition for Prior Learning and similar courses in relation to tax practice, etc.

The court also restrained ICTPI from enrolling any person or body under the category of affiliates, associates, fellows, honorary and academic for the purpose of offering any courses relating to tax laws and related courses or for issuance of any licences, certificates, etc.

While contending that “ICTPI appears to have created fictitious courses to offer to the general public without any legal recognition,” the ICAI has said that the Ministry of Finance, the Registrar of Companies and the University Grants Commission have not taken any action against the ICTPI despite submitting several representations about the alleged illegal activities of ICTPI, which is a company registered under Section 8 (formulation of companies with charitable objects, etc) of the Companies Act, 2013.

“The courses offered by the ICTPI are in contravention of Section 15A of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, which restricts universities or bodies from offering courses in the field of education dealt with by the petitioner institute. The ICTPI is prescribing courses on its whims and fancy to mislead the general public that is, in fact, a legitimate degree offered by it to the students under a statute, which is not the case,” the ICAI claimed in its petition.

The ICAI has stated in the petition a large number of candidates are paying thousands of rupees from their head-earned monies in the form of fees to enrol for the unauthorised courses, being unaware of the courses offered by ICTPI.

Pointing out that the name of ICTPI is almost identical and similar to the name of the petitioner-institute, it has been stated in the petition that this gives a misleading impression to the public at large that ICTPI is related to or somehow affiliated/associated with ICAI.

Published – November 15, 2024 06:43 am IST

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HD Kumaraswamy, Son Get Relief In Defamation Case No Coercive Action

admin — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:18:01 +0000

Chandrashekar had approached the court demanding registration of an FIR against Kumaraswamy.

Bengaluru:

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy got relief from the Karnataka High Court in connection with the FIR registered against him based on the complaint by Lokayukta SIT ADGP M Chandrashekar.

The High Court bench passed the order on Wednesday while looking into the petition by Kumaraswamy seeking quashing of the FIR. ADGP Chandrashekhar has registered the complaint against Union Minister Kumaraswamy at Bengaluru’s Sanjaynagar Police Station.

The High Court has ordered that no coercive action be taken against him and granted him interim relief.

Senior counsel Hashmat Pasha, appearing for Kumaraswamy, argued that the police are attempting to cancel a 10-year-old anticipatory bail by reviving the case.

The High Court ruled that the FIR cannot be used to revoke old anticipatory bail. Additionally, the High Court recorded a statement from the State Public Prosecutor (SPP) that no coercive measures would be taken against Kumaraswamy in this matter.

Karnataka Police had registered an FIR against Kumaraswamy, on Tuesday as per the directions of a court.

Senior IPS officer Chandrashekar had accused Kumaraswamy of defaming and threatening him and his family.

Sanjaynagar police in Bengaluru had registered the FIR against Kumaraswamy.

The FIR is registered under Section 224 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

The police have named Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy as the second accused in the case.

C B Suresh Babu, the JD-S party floor leader in the Legislative Assembly is named as the third accused in the case.

The police had taken a non-cognisable miscellaneous case.

Chandrashekar had approached the court demanding registration of an FIR against Kumaraswamy.

Chandrashekar, in his complaint to the court, had alleged that he had been heading the SIT team probing a case of illegal mining in 2014 – case no. 16/2014 and after getting additional evidence in the case, the investigating team had sought sanction of prosecution from the Governor recently.

In response to this, HD Kumaraswamy held a press conference on September 28 and 29 – where the minister made malicious accusations, threatening the IPS officer and his family members.

The IPS officer, in his complaint to the court, alleged that Kumaraswamy orally threatened him that he would be shunted to another state cadre and also made ill-intended allegations against his family members.

In reply to the charges, Chandrashekar wrote a letter to his staff and refuted all allegations calling it false and malicious.

Chandrashekar concluded his letter by quoting George Bernard Shaw’s famous lines, “Never wrestle with a pig because you’ll both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”

Kumaraswamy expressed outrage on Tuesday, calling the FIR filed against him based on a complaint by a senior IPS officer, Lokayukta SIT chief, M. Chandrashekar as “ridiculous and malicious.”

Kumaraswamy responded to media questions, saying, “During this by-election, the Congress-led state government is targeting us out of sheer animosity. I will respond to this through the judiciary.”

“I have read the FIR and the complaint’s content. It is completely ridiculous and clearly malicious. The complainant has stated that I allegedly made accusations against him in a press conference and has asked for action. Did I provide false information about him? He can review my press conference video if he wants,” said the Union Minister.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Will Actor Darshan Get Interim Bail? High Court Verdict Likely Today

admin — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 02:11:27 +0000

The court said it needs to understand how long Darshan would have to be hospitalised.

Darshan has sought interim bail on the grounds that he is experiencing numbness in both feet and needs to undergo surgery.

Here are 10 points in this big story:

Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was arrested with his friend and actor Pavithra Gowda and 15 others for the torture and murder of one of his fans, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, in Bengaluru in June and had approached the Karnataka High Court for interim bail.
Darshan has sought interim bail on the grounds that he is experiencing numbness in both feet. On Tuesday, the actor’s lawyer requested the court for permission for his surgery to be performed at a private hospital in Mysuru.
The request was opposed by the public prosecutor, who said that the medical documents did not specify how many days Darshan would need to be hospitalised and argued that the surgery could be conducted at a government hospital.
Justice S Vishwajith Shetty asked, “Why Mysuru? Let a doctor in Bengaluru examine you (Darshan) and provide an assessment of the surgery’s urgency and duration. Interim bail is time-limited, and we need to understand how long you would be hospitalised.”
The prosecutor also argued that Darshan should undergo a health evaluation by a state-appointed medical board.
After hearing both sides, the judge reserved his verdict and is likely to pronounce it today.
The police had said Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder.
Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan’s fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in Bengauluru’s RR Nagar.
The chargesheet had detailed the inhuman treatment meted out to Renukaswamy, including being jolted with electric shocks on his private parts. Gowda, who had allegedly instigated the murder, was also allegedly present when Renukaswamy was tortured.
“Despite my son’s constant pleas and agreeing that he did wrong, they tortured him so badly with no mercy. It causes me immense pain. Did they have no mercy whatsoever? They gave him shocks and tortured him, sparing no body part. Imagine how much pain he must have experienced. Thinking about this causes us a lot of pain,” Renukaswamy’s father Kashinath Shivanagoudar had said.

Karnataka High Court Rejects Prajwal Revanna’s Bail Plea In Sex Crime Cases

admin — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:03:47 +0000

Prajwal Revanna is facing four cases in connection with the sex video scam. (File)

Bengaluru:

The Karnataka High Court on Monday rejected three bail petitions filed by prime accused Prajwal Revanna, a former MP and grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, in the sensational sex video scam.

A single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order, denying the bail in connection with two rape cases and a case of recording of video of a victim of sexual harassment.

The court is yet to give its order on another rape case.

Prajwal Revanna is facing four cases in connection with the sex video scam.

Senior counsel Prabhuling Navadgi appeared for Prajwal Revanna and senior counsel Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar argued for the prosecution and submitted before the court not to grant bail in the case.

One of the victims from Hassan had filed a rape case against Prajwal Revanna in Bengaluru Cyber police station. The court had rejected the bail in the matter.

Another case is related to the sexual assault of a maid at the farmhouse in Holenarasipura. The disturbing video of the incident has gone viral on social media during the Lok Sabha election. The alleged videos of the aged maid pleading to spare her as she is an elderly lady, who served food to his father and other elders of the family as she was sexually assaulted had stirred outrage. The victim was kidnapped after the video surfaced on social media and the police arrested Prajwal Revanna’s father, JD-S MLA HD Revanna. Presently, he is out on conditional bail.

The police had also issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal’s mother Bhavani Revanna in the case. However, she managed to obtain bail. The bail order was challenged by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Supreme Court and the apex court upheld the bail order by the Karnataka High Court.

Another case relates to forcing a woman from Hassan to strip and record her video when she approached Prajwal Revanna for her son’s admission to a reputed school. Both cases were registered at the Cyber police station in Bengaluru.

The High Court has stated that it would pass the order in connection with the rape case of a former ZP member in his office in two days. Prajwal Revanna has been lodged in the Bengaluru Central Prison for four months.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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