'Can't Stigmatize Over Medical Condition': Karnataka High Court Permits Priest Having Vitiligo To Perform Rituals At Chamundeshwari Temple

The Karnataka High Court has recently directed the Chamundeshwari Temple authorities to permit a hereditary priest suffering from vitiligo to perform his duties, emphasising that stigmatisation based on a non-contagious medical condition amounts to discrimination and violates Article 14 of the Constitution. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 235]The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj...

Karnataka High Court Slams Police For Making Lawyer Accused In Murder Case Allegedly To Examine CCTV Footage From His Adjoining Premises

Staying the criminal proceedings against an advocate who was arraigned as an accused in a murder case allegedly since his residence and office, equipped with CCTV cameras, was adjacent to the crime scene, the Karnataka High Court on Monday [July 6] opined that the acts of the Investigating Officer (IO) appeared to be prima facie 'a gross abuse of process of law'.The single judge bench of...

Promotion On Day Of Superannuation, Employee Entitled To All Promotional Benefits: Karnataka HC

A Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Nawaz and Justice Venkatesh Naik T held that a government employee who validly assumes charge of a promoted post on the date of superannuation is entitled to all consequential promotional and pensionary benefits from that date, even if the charge was assumed after noon. Background Facts The...

Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Persons Booked For Defacing Dr BR Ambedkar's Portrait With Cow Dung

The Karnataka High Court has granted bail to two persons accused of defiling the portrait of Dr. B R Ambedkar with cow dung at Hosakote, noting that the appellants have been in judicial custody since April 28, 2026. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 233]While granting bail, Justice S. Rachaiah noted that an eye witness had seen and identified the two appellants and a third accused throwing cow dung...

'Law Should Never Be A Puzzle': Karnataka High Court Urges Legislature To Revive Practice Of Using Illustrations In Statutes

The Karnataka High Court has recently remarked that law which is 'meant for common man' must be drafted in 'the simplest possible way', while suggesting that the legislature should bring back the practise of using illustrations in the statute to reduce conflicts about its interpretation and ensuing litigation. [2026 Livelaw (Kar) 231]The single judge bench of Justice Anant Ramanath...

Homestay Owner Where US National Was Allegedly Raped Moves Karnataka High Court To Quash Chargesheet Filed Under Repealed Foreigners Act

The owner of a Kodagu Homestay, where a 33-year-old US national was allegedly drugged and raped, moved the Karnataka High Court on Friday (July 3) seeking quashing of a new chargesheet against him which includes offences under the repealed Foreigner's Act, 1946. For context, the petitioner had moved the high court in a separate plea seeking quashing of a rape FIR; after hearing the matter...

Karnataka High Court Refuses To Stay State Gig Workers Act, Asks Platforms To Deposit Welfare Fund With Court

The Karnataka High Court on Friday [July 3] directed platform aggregators, including Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Zepto, to deposit the welfare fee envisaged for the gig workers in the second quarter with the Court registry, even as it refused to stay the operation of the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025 and Rules under which it has been...

'How Can ECI's Seal On Postal Ballots Be Broken?': Karnataka High Court Questions Tampering Allegation Against BJP's DN Jeevaraja

The Karnataka High Court on Friday (July 3) orally questioned how tampering by BJP's D.N. Jeevaraja could be alleged when the election documents and ballots of Sringeri constituency were in the exclusive custody of the Election Commission of India (ECI).The court was hearing the BJP leader's plea seeking quashing of an FIR over alleged ballot tampering during recounting of votes of...

Karnataka High Court Grants Bail To Former MUDA Commissioner In PMLA Case, Recognizes 'Changed Circumstances' And Delay In Trial

The Karnataka High Court on July 1 [Wednesday] granted bail to G.T. Dinesh Kumar, the former Commissioner of the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged MUDA land allotment scam. [ 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 231]The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna noted in the order there were five 'changed...

Karnataka High Court Stays GO Directing Withdrawal Of 52 Criminal Prosecutions Including 2022 Aland Riots Cases

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (July 2) stayed the operation of a May 27 Government Order directing Public Prosecutors to withdraw prosecution in 52 criminal cases across the State including 2022 Aland riots case. For context, in May 2025 the high court had set aside a Government order, directing public prosecutors to withdraw 43 criminal cases registered/pending against persons accused...

Karnataka High Court Rejects ED's Bail Cancellation Plea Against Aishwarya Gowda Accused In Gold Investment Scam

The Karnataka High Court has last week dismissed a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking cancellation of regular bail granted to Aishwarya Gowda, accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 for an alleged ₹15 crores Gold Investment Scam. [ 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 230]The single judge bench of Justice S. Vishwajith Shetty noted that the proviso to Section...

Karnataka High Court Quashes Cruelty FIR Against Sister-In-Law Residing Abroad, Says Alleged Telephonic 'Instigation' Doesn't Attract S.498A IPC

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a cruelty case lodged by a woman against her sister-in-law who resides in Luxembourg, for allegedly 'filling the ears' of her in-laws by repeatedly calling them. [ 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 229]The single judge bench of Justice M.Nagaprasanna noted that complaint about sister-in-law torturing the complainant through such phone calls cannot be accepted in the...