Karnataka High Court Weekly Roundup: November 17 - November 23, 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 386 to 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 395

Nominal Index:

REESHAN THAJUDDIN SHEIKH AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 386

State of Karnataka AND MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 387

PANDURANG S/O. TUKARAM SHIVANE AND DURDUNDI MALAGOUDA PATIL & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 388

DR ARCHANA BHAT K AND State of Karnataka & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 389

MICHAEL MAHESH CHRIS SALDANHA AND THE STATE OF KARNATAKA & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 390

THE NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD ANd GEORGE MENEZES & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 391

M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited AND State of Karnataka. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 392

Karnataka State Cricket Association AND ELECTORAL OFFICER, KSCA. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 393

Revanna H D AND State of Karnataka & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 394

M/s Merck Life Science Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 395

Judgments/Orders

Undertrial's Rights To Education, Rehabilitation Can't Be Ignored During Prison Transfers Citing Security Concerns: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: REESHAN THAJUDDIN SHEIKH AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 24840 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 386

The Karnataka High Court recently held that if the transfer of an under-trial prisoner from one prison to another is to be ordered, the Court must balance the security concerns projected by the authorities with the legitimate rights of the prisoner to education, rehabilitation, family visitation, and access to legal assistance.

A single judge, Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum held thus while allowing a petition filed by one Reeshan Thajuddin Sheikh who had approached the court after he was transferred from Bengaluru Central Prison to Belagavi Central Prison.

Dead Person's Fingerprint Can't Be Used To Identify Her From Aadhar Database: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: State of Karnataka AND MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION & ANR

Case No: WP 25182/2024

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 387

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by the Bengaluru Police, seeking to identify a deceased woman by matching her fingerprints with the Aadhar data maintained by Unique Identification Authority of India.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj observed that a live fingerprint is required for the purpose of authentication and as such, "a dead person's fingerprint cannot be directed to be identified through a search on the UIDAI database.”

The single bench also cited "technical constraints" in matching a dead fingerprint. It observed, “There being technical constraints in such matching fingerprint with the Aadhar number as also there being a requirement to maintain privacy of individuals and also on account of security that a live fingerprint is required for the purpose of authentication, I am of the opinion that the dead person's fingerprint cannot be directed to be identified through a search on the UIDAI database.”

Hospital's Failure To Inform Police About Road Accident Cannot Defeat Victim's Compensation Claim: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: PANDURANG S/O. TUKARAM SHIVANE AND DURDUNDI MALAGOUDA PATIL & Others

Case No: MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 103215 OF 2014 (MV) C/W MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 103214 OF 2014

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 388

The Karnataka High Court held that failure on the part of hospital authorities to give intimation to the police about a road accident should not affect the claimants' chances of securing compensation in motor accident cases.

Justice Dr. Chillakur Sumalatha said so while allowing the appeals filed by Pandurang Shivane and his wife, who had challenged the trial court's order dismissing their claim petitions on the ground that they failed to prove they were injured in a road traffic accident.

The petitioners argued that immediately after the accident, they were shifted to the hospital for treatment. The wound certificates revealed the nature of the injuries sustained. As they were undergoing treatment and attending to one another, they were unable to lodge a complaint with the police immediately. A complaint was later filed, and the police, after investigation, filed a chargesheet against the rider of the offending vehicle. However, the Tribunal, without considering these facts, dismissed the claim petitions.

Karnataka High Court Directs State To Implement Rule On Speed Limit, Helmet And Safety Harness For Children Riding Pillion

Case Title: DR ARCHANA BHAT K AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: WP 27135/2023

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 389

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State to take immediate steps for implementation of Rule 138 (7) of Central Motor Vehicle (Second Amendment) Rules 2022, which prescribes maximum speed limit for two-wheelers when children ride pillion. The Rule also mandates helmet and safety harness for kids.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha observed, “Though state authorities have taken some steps towards implementation of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, in effect the said rule is not implemented yet. It is apparent that there is no cavil that the said rule is required to be implemented. Therefore, the state is now required to take effective steps to ensure that the rule is implemented. We accordingly dispose of the petition by directing the state to take immediate steps to ensure that the said rule is implemented."

Threat To Legal Heir's Life Not Necessary To Transfer Arms License If Licensee Is Over 70-Yrs Or Held License For 25+ Yrs: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: MICHAEL MAHESH CHRIS SALDANHA AND THE STATE OF KARNATAKA & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 30532 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 390

The Karnataka High Court has held that when an application under Rule 25 of the Arms Rules, 2016, is made during the lifetime of the licensee, so long as the licensee is aged more than 70 years or has been holding the firearm licence for more than 25 years, he can nominate any of his legal heirs for transfer of licence and transfer of arm and there will be no requirement for the transferee to establish that there is any threat to life.

A single judge, Justice Suraj Govindaraj held thus while allowing a petition filed by Michael Mahesh Chris Saldanha. The court directed respondent No.3 (Commissioner of Police, Managaluru) to process the application of the petitioner in terms of clause (b) of Rule 25(1) and issue a licence within a period of 4 weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

Married Sister Can Be Dependent For Claiming Motor Accident Compensation: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: THE NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY LTD ANd GEORGE MENEZES & Others

Case No: MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 3886 OF 2020 (MV-D) C/W MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL NO. 4216 OF 2020

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 391

The Karnataka High Court recently said that in Indian social context, it is not uncommon for daughters and sisters, even after marriage, to maintain a close relationship with their parental family.

The earning member of the family often contributes towards their welfare and social needs, it added. "Therefore, their right to claim compensation cannot be denied merely on the ground of their marital status," said Justice Umesh M Adiga while dismissing an appeal filed by the Insurer against an order of the Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal.

Karnataka High Court Rejects DNA Entertainment's Plea To Quash Inquiry Commission's Report On Bengaluru Stampede

Case Title: M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited AND State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 22323/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 392

The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by Event management firm M/s DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited seeking quashing of a judicial inquiry report regarding Bengaluru Stampede which occurred in May.

A division bench of Justice D K Singh and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju passed the order. A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available.

The Government of Karnataka, had on June 5, issued a Government Order, appointing a Commission of Inquiry headed by Retired justice John Michael Cunha and further directed that the Inquiry should be completed within a period of one month.

Karnataka High Court Directs State Cricket Association Elections To Be Held On December 07

Case Title: Karnataka State Cricket Association AND ELECTORAL OFFICER, KSCA.

Case No: WP 34890/2025 C/w WP 34902/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 393

The Karnataka High Court on Friday quashed the letter dated November 17, issued by the Electoral Officer of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), postponing elections to its Managing Committee, initially scheduled to be held on November 30.

A single judge, Justice Suraj Govindraj allowed the petitions filed by KSCA and B K Ravi, one of the members of the Committee. It said,

“The Electoral officer is directed to conduct the election to Karnataka State Cricket Association as per the existing byelaws of KSCA and complete the elections as per the following calendar events, without being influenced by any interpretation sought to be given to the byelaws by any quarters.”

Part Relief For HD Revanna: Karnataka High Court Sets Aside Outraging Modesty Charge Levelled By Former House Help

Case Title: Revanna H D AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION NO.4932 OF 2024

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 394

The Karnataka High Court has set aside the charge of outraging woman's modesty under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code, levelled against Janata Dal (S) leader HD Revanna, by his former house help.

However, the court has upheld the charge under Section 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) leveled against him and asked the trial court to examine if the same can be invoked despite lapse of limitation period prescribed under Section 468 CrPC.

Justice M I Arun said, “This Court is of the opinion that the allegations made in the complaint attract the provision of Section 354A of IPC and not Section 354 of IPC.”

Centre Cannot Retain Wrongly Paid IGST Once Correct Tax Is Paid To State GST Authorities: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: M/s Merck Life Science Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India

Case Number: WRIT PETITION NO. 27259 OF 2024 (T-RES)

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 395

The Karnataka High Court has held that the Centre cannot retain wrongly paid IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax) once the correct tax is paid to the State authorities.

Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar observed that since the assessee had wrongly paid IGST and later paid the correct tax to the State GST, the Central government must refund IGST to the assessee.

The assessee/appellant is a Science and Technology Company operating across healthcare, life science and electronics and has been engaged in providing intermediary services to foreign entities.