Karnataka High Court Case Commentaries

Unregistered Customary Marriage Can Be Tested Under Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act: Registration Under Section 15 Is Not a Precondition for Divorce

Date: Apr 18, 2026

Unregistered Customary Marriage Can Be Tested Under Section 27 of the Special Marriage Act: Registration Under Section 15 Is Not a Precondition for Divorce 1. Introduction In Smt. Rathna P v. Sri....

Liquor Licences: No Vested Right to Renewal; Lapsed Licences May Be Auctioned with Government-Fixed Reservation Norms; Interim Stay on Subordinate Legislation Requires a Strong Prima Facie Case

Date: Apr 16, 2026

Liquor Licences: No Vested Right to Renewal; Lapsed Licences May Be Auctioned with Government-Fixed Reservation Norms; Interim Stay on Subordinate Legislation Requires a Strong Prima Facie Case Case:...

Implied Statutory Power of ESIC to Enforce Medical Education Service Bonds (and Recover Subsidy in Lieu)

Date: Apr 7, 2026

Implied Statutory Power of ESIC to Enforce Medical Education Service Bonds (and Recover Subsidy in Lieu) 1. Introduction Case: EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION v. SRI ABHISHEK CHOUDHARI Court:...

Minor’s Welfare Overrides Procedural Insistence on Non-Custodial Parent’s Passport Consent

Date: Apr 2, 2026

Minor’s Welfare Overrides Procedural Insistence on Non-Custodial Parent’s Passport Consent 1) Introduction Case: OMISHA MARAR v. PASSPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA Court: Karnataka High Court Date:...

Physical (Non-Electronic) Service of Section 35(3) BNSS Notice as a Precondition to the “Notice-First” Arrest Regime for ≤7-Year Offences

Date: Mar 26, 2026

Physical (Non-Electronic) Service of Section 35(3) BNSS Notice as a Precondition to the “Notice-First” Arrest Regime for ≤7-Year Offences 1. Introduction Case: MR. YUGADEV R v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA...

Marriage-Expense Narratives and Omnibus Dowry Allegations: Quashing 498A/DP Act Proceedings Against In-Laws for Want of Specific Overt Acts

Date: Mar 26, 2026

Marriage-Expense Narratives and Omnibus Dowry Allegations: Quashing 498A/DP Act Proceedings Against In-Laws for Want of Specific Overt Acts 1) Introduction In SMT SUMITHRA v. STATE OF KARNATAKA...

Contextual Mens Rea and Welfare-Based Bail in Alleged “Anti-National” Slogan Prosecutions under the BNS

Date: Mar 12, 2026

Contextual Mens Rea and Welfare-Based Bail in Alleged “Anti-National” Slogan Prosecutions under the BNS 1) Introduction Case: SMT SARBANU KHATUN v. STATE OF KARNATAKA Court: High Court of Karnataka...

Writ Court Can Permit Salary Payments from PMLA-Frozen Accounts When the Adjudicating Authority Lacks Interim Powers

Date: Mar 10, 2026

Writ Court Can Permit Salary Payments from PMLA-Frozen Accounts When the Adjudicating Authority Lacks Interim Powers Case: DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT v. ZO PVT LTD Court: Karnataka High Court...

Transfers Must Be Processed by Administrative Departments: Chief Minister’s Office Notes Are Only Recommendatory

Date: Mar 10, 2026

Transfers Must Be Processed by Administrative Departments: Chief Minister’s Office Notes Are Only Recommendatory Case: SRI CHETHAN S v. THE KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED Court:...

Digital Gold Schemes Can Trigger the BUDS Act: “Deposit” Examined by Economic Substance; FIR Quashment Under Section 528 BNSS Remains Exceptional

Date: Mar 5, 2026

Digital Gold Schemes Can Trigger the BUDS Act: “Deposit” Examined by Economic Substance; FIR Quashment Under Section 528 BNSS Remains Exceptional Case: NISHCHAY BABU ARKALGUD v. STATE OF KARNATAKA...

Section 494 IPC: Only the “Erring Spouse” Can Be Prosecuted; Mere “Illegal Relationship/Live-in” Allegations Do Not Make Out Bigamy

Date: Mar 4, 2026

Section 494 IPC: Only the “Erring Spouse” Can Be Prosecuted; Mere “Illegal Relationship/Live-in” Allegations Do Not Make Out Bigamy 1) Introduction This decision of the Karnataka High Court (R....

Delay in FIR Not Fatal in Intra-Family Homicide Where Priority Was Medical Treatment; Close-Relative Eyewitness Testimony Sustained

Date: Feb 28, 2026

Delay in FIR Not Fatal in Intra-Family Homicide Where Priority Was Medical Treatment; Close-Relative Eyewitness Testimony Sustained 1. Introduction In MANJAPPA v. STATE OF KARNATAKA (Karnataka High...

Bail in Document-Centric Counterfeit Stamp/Will-Forgery Investigations: Custody Unwarranted Once Evidence is Seized and Forensic Opinion is Received

Date: Feb 28, 2026

Bail in Document-Centric Counterfeit Stamp/Will-Forgery Investigations: Custody Unwarranted Once Evidence is Seized and Forensic Opinion is Received 1) Introduction The Karnataka High Court’s...

Writ Jurisdiction to Grant Limited Emergency Parole Despite a Pending Criminal Appeal (Exceptional Case)

Date: Feb 28, 2026

Writ Jurisdiction to Grant Limited Emergency Parole Despite a Pending Criminal Appeal (Exceptional Case) 1. Introduction In SMT. GEETHA R v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA (Karnataka High Court, decided on...

Single Non‑Vital Stab in Intra‑Community Dispute: Section 307 IPC Set Aside; Conviction Confined to Section 326 IPC with Victim-Compensation Through Fine

Date: Feb 27, 2026

Single Non‑Vital Stab in Intra‑Community Dispute: Section 307 IPC Set Aside; Conviction Confined to Section 326 IPC with Victim-Compensation Through Fine Case: IMTHIYAZ v. STATE OF KARNATAKA...

Illegality of Judicial Remand in Purely Bailable Offences and Misuse of “Kidnapping” Allegations Against an Adult Married Woman

Date: Feb 25, 2026

Illegality of Judicial Remand in Purely Bailable Offences and Misuse of “Kidnapping” Allegations Against an Adult Married Woman 1) Introduction In Murali B N v. State of Karnataka (Karnataka High...

Demand-and-Acceptance as Twin Essentials for Section 7A PC Act: FIR Quashed Where No Trap, No Recovery, No Proof of Acceptance

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Demand-and-Acceptance as Twin Essentials for Section 7A PC Act: FIR Quashed Where No Trap, No Recovery, No Proof of Acceptance PRABHUGOWDA PATIL, v. STATE OF KARNATAKA, Karnataka High Court (M....

Maintenance-Driven Requests Cannot Access Spouse’s Income-Tax Returns via RTI; Proper Route Is Court Summons with Confidentiality Safeguards

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Maintenance-Driven Requests Cannot Access Spouse’s Income-Tax Returns via RTI; Proper Route Is Court Summons with Confidentiality Safeguards Case: INCOME TAX OFFICER v. SMT GULSANOBER Court:...

Defamation Quash Petitions: “Good Faith” (IPC §499 Exception 9) and BNSS Pre‑Process Notice Do Not Justify Threshold Discharge; Settlement‑Period Pendency Explains Delay

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Defamation Quash Petitions: “Good Faith” (IPC §499 Exception 9) and BNSS Pre‑Process Notice Do Not Justify Threshold Discharge; Settlement‑Period Pendency Explains Delay Case: SMT. ROHINI SINDHURI...

Intent as the Threshold for Section 2, Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act: Edited/Digital Depictions Cannot Sustain Prosecution Without Mens Rea

Date: Feb 22, 2026

Intent as the Threshold for Section 2, Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act: Edited/Digital Depictions Cannot Sustain Prosecution Without Mens Rea Case: SRI VENUGOPAL B C v. THE STATE OF...