Karnataka High Court Weekly Round-Up: March 30 – April 05, 2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 126 to 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 133Nominal CitationSri Gopal Joshi & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 126Neeraj Kumar Sharma v. State of Karnataka & Ors.., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 127Sri Suri Payala v. Government of Karnataka & Ors., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 128Sri Ravichandre Gowda N.R. v. State of Karnataka & Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 128Smt. Sumithra & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Anr., 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 130Mohan Naik & Anr. v. The State of Karnataka, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 131Registrar General, High Court of Karnataka & Ors. v. Sri Pavanesh D & Ors. and conn.matters, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 132Mr. Yugadev R. v. State of Karnataka & Others, 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 133Judgments/ OrdersKarnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against Union Minister Prahlad Joshi's Brother In Alleged 'Election Ticket' Cheating CaseCase Title: Sri Gopal Joshi & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Anr.Case No.: Writ Petition No. 28739 of 2024Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 126The Karnataka High Court has quashed the cheating case filed by the wife of a former JD(S) MLA against Gopal Joshi- the estranged brother of Union Minister Prahlad Joshi-and his son, holding that the ₹2 crore dispute over an election ticket was a civil matter of money recovery, not a criminal offence.The single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna noted in the order as follows:“…The issue, in the case at hand, is a transaction which has gone wrong. Money allegedly changed hands. Therefore, it was purely for the purpose of recovery of money criminal proceedings are set into motion, which the Apex Court deprecated…”.“Highly Improper": Karnataka High Court Quashes Seizure & RC Cancellation Of Mercedes In Tax Case, Says RTO Acted Beyond AuthorityCase Title: Neeraj Kumar Sharma v. State of Karnataka & Ors.Case No.: Writ Petition No. 36250 of 2025Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 127Criticising the unlawful seizure of a Mercedes vehicle and subsequent cancellation of its registration during the pendency of a writ petition against the seizure, the Karnataka High Court has come down on the state's RTO Department for 'flagrant disregard for court proceedings'. The court has directed the authority to restore the registration of the Mercedes-AMG G 63 vehicle in question.The single judge bench of Justice Jyoti M has quashed the Investigation Report of Vehicle's seizure and the order of cancellation of the Registration Certificate as untenable in law. In June 2025, a special checking squad under the RTO had taken possession of the vehicle parked on the roadside, claiming non-payment of sufficient taxes as a reason.Mere Conferment Of Ministerial Perks Doesn't Make Cabinet Rank Appointments 'Ministers' Under Article 164(1A): Karnataka High CourtCase Title: Sri Suri Payala v. Government of Karnataka & Ors.Case No.: Writ Petition No. 3570 of 2025Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 128The Karnataka High Court has recently dismissed a public interest litigation filed to quash the appointment of several MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) and MLCs (Member of Legislative Council) to various Boards and Corporations with cabinet rank and pecuniary benefits similar to that of ministers.The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha held that such appointees are not 'Ministers' within the meaning of Article 164(1A) of the Constitution.The court held that the 15 per cent ceiling on the number of MLAs/MLCs that can be included in the council of ministers, though rigid, does not extend to statutory body/board appointments. The court clarified that such appointees, even if they receive similar salary and cabinet rank perks as those of the ministers, are not to be counted as a part of the council of ministers per se.Karnataka High Court Directs State To Grant S.17A Sanction To Investigate Rohini Sindhuri IAS In Cloth Bag ScamCase Title: Sri Ravichandre Gowda N.R. v. State of Karnataka & OthersCase No: Writ Petition No. 2783 of 2026Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 129The Karnataka High Court has set aside a government order refusing the sanction to investigate IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri, former Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, in the alleged 'eco-friendly cloth bags procurement' scam.The single judge bench of Justice M.Nagaprasanna directed the state to provide approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to sanction preliminary investigation within four weeks. The court underscored that departmental exoneration cannot be utilised by the state to shield the accused officer from 'even the threshold scrutiny of criminal investigation'.'Can't Use Criminal Law As Weapon To Implicate In-Laws In Matrimonial Discord': Karnataka High Court Quashes Cruelty FIRCase Title: Smt. Sumithra & Ors. v. State of Karnataka & Anr.Case No.: Criminal Petition No. 12989 of 2024Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 130The Karnataka High Court quashed criminal proceedings against the in-laws of a woman who had alleged dowry harassment, remarking that criminal law cannot be wielded as a ...

Karnataka High Court Weekly Round-Up: March 30 – April 05, 2026

Sebin James

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