Body Shaming Woman's Physical Appearance Is Not Offence Of Insulting Modesty Under Section 509 IPC: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has recently quashed criminal proceeding for outraging the modesty of a woman, against two person accused of body-shaming and verbally abusing the complainant, noting that body shaming alone does not by itself constitute offence of outraging a woman's modesty under Section 509 IPC. [ 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 399]Section 509 states that whoever, intending to insult the...

ED Attachment Of Property Can Be Challenged Under Article 226, But Entertaining Writ Is Court's Discretion: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has refused to entertain a writ petition challenging an order confirming attachment of properties under the PMLA despite the predicate offence having been quashed. The Court held that since the PMLA constitutes a “complete Code” providing a hierarchy of authority and remedies, and while Article 226 petition is maintainable against attachment order however...

Karnataka High Court Refuses To Entertain Priyank Kharge, Haris Nalapad's Pleas Against RSS Defamation Case; Directs Them To Sessions Court

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (October 1) declined to entertain petitions filed by Karnataka Home Minister Priyank M. Kharge and Congress leader Mohammed Haris Nalapad, challenging the criminal defamation proceedings initiated against them over alleged remarks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 399]The Single Bench of Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde...

'State Doesn't Have 5 Acres For Soldier Who Served Nation': Karnataka High Court Laments In Ex-Serviceman's Plea For Grant Of Land

The Karnataka High Court set aside a single judge's direction to grant five acres of agricultural land to an ex-serviceman, holding that the amended Rule 8(8) of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules entitles him only to a residential site of 2,400 square feet where Government land is unavailable. The Court, however, recorded its regret in detail about the current state of affairs. [2026 LiveLaw...

'Moral Consciousness Can't Overtake Legal Entitlement': Karnataka High Court Grants Parole To Murder Convicts To Get Married

The Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court granted one-day parole to two life convicts who wished to marry each other, observing that “moral consciousness cannot overtake the legal entitlement to get married”.Justice M.G.S. Kamal allowed the writ petition filed by the two convicts serving life term, seeking parole to get married. The two petitioners have been convicted for murdering...

IO Can't Independently Record Victim's Further Statement After S.183 BNSS Statement Recorded By Magistrate: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that once a victim's statement is recorded before a jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 183 BNSS the Investigating Officer (IO) cannot independently record a further statement of the victim. “Even if the Investigating Officer had to record the further statement of the victim girl, after her statement was recorded under Section 183 of BNSS, 2023 before...

No Limitation For Seeking Maintenance Under Section 125 CrPC, Wife's Right Can't Be Lost By Delay: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that there is no period of limitation for filing a maintenance petition under Section 125 CrPC and such a plea cannot be rejected solely on ground of delay. Justice Chillakur Sumalatha set aside a family court order which had dismissed a maintenance petition filed by a wife and her daughter solely on the ground of delay.The High Court noted that the...

Karnataka High Court Quashes Order Adding JD(S) Leader Suraj Revanna As Accused In Attempt To Murder Case

The Karnataka High Court has held that arraying a person as an accused under Section 319 CrPC is not a “frolicsome act” and must be supported by cogent evidence that establishes a much stricter degree of satisfaction than a prima facie case. Consequently, the High Court quashed a Sessions Court order arraying Member of Karnataka Legislative Council from Janata Dal (Secular) party...

Karnataka High Court Seeks Chief Secretary's Affidavit On Timeline To Establish Civil Service Board As Per 2013 SC Directions

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (September 30) directed State's Chief Secretary to inform the timeline within which Civil Service Board will be established in compliance with Supreme Court directions passed in 2013. The court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the State to constitute Civil Service Board and fix minimum tenure of service for civil servants as directed by Supreme...

Public Authorities Can't Shift Burden To Citizens: Karnataka High Court Directs Information Commission To Maintain RTI Implementation Data

The Karnataka High Court has issued a slew of directions to the State Information Commission to prescribe a uniform format for the collection, maintenance and disclosure of information relating to the implementation of the RTI Act by public authorities in the State. The petitioner an RTI applicant had sought names of the Public Information Officer or Public Information Officers against...

2% Cinema Ticket Cess: Karnataka High Court Records State's Assurance Of No Coercive Action Against Petitioner-Theatres; But No Stay On Act

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (September 30) recorded the State's assurance that no coercive action would be taken against the petitioners challenging to the constitutional validity of the 2% cess imposed on cinema tickets under the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024, till the next date of hearing. However, there is no stay on the operation of the Act as...

Karnataka High Court To Examine Section 17A PC Act Applicability To Pre-2018 Offences, Consequences Of Delay In Granting Sanction

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (September 29) decided to examine the applicability of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, to offences allegedly committed before the provision was introduced in 2018, as well as the consequences of a prolonged delay by the State Government in granting approval to investigate a public servant.The single judge bench of Justice V...