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Sri Sanjay B Patil vs State Of Karnataka
2024 Latest Caselaw 27970 Kant

Citation : 2024 Latest Caselaw 27970 Kant
Judgement Date : 22 November, 2024

Karnataka High Court

Sri Sanjay B Patil vs State Of Karnataka on 22 November, 2024

Author: M.Nagaprasanna

Bench: M.Nagaprasanna

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                                                    CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                       DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024

                                         BEFORE
                        THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
                          CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 12289 OF 2024


                 BETWEEN:

                 1.    SRI SANJAY B. PATIL
                       AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS,
                       FORMER MLA,
                       BELAGAVI RURAL CONSTITUENCY,
                       ADARSHANAGAR 2ND CROSS,
                       SHAHAPURA,
                       BELAGAVI - 590 001.
                       KARNATAKA.

                 2.    SRI SHASHIKANTHRAWJIPATIL
                       AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS,
                       JAFFARVADI,
                       BELAGAVI - 590 001
Digitally signed       KARNATAKA.
by NAGAVENI
Location: HIGH
COURT OF         3.    RUDRANNA SIDDAPPA CHANDARAGI
KARNATAKA              AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS,
                       NO.128, KUMARASWAMY LAYOUT
                       BELAGAVI - 590 001
                       KARNATAKA.

                 4.    RAJU NARAYANA KATARE
                       AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,
                       PHATAVADANA LAYOUT,
                       VADAGAVI
                       BELAGAVI - 590 001
                          -2-
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                                CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




     KARNATAKA.

5.   RAWBAHADDORA CHANDRAKANTH KADAM
     AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS,
     NO. 1714, DORAGALLI
     VADAGAVI
     BELAGAVI - 590 001
     KARNATAKA.

6.   RAJKUMAR MANOHARA KATVAKARA
     AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,
     NO. 17, 2ND CROSS,
     SHIVAJI NAGAR
     BELAGAVI - 590 001
     KARNATAKA.

7.   GIRISHA LAKSHMANA DOGADI
     AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS,
     FLAT NO. 12,
     HOLABATTI COLONY
     BELAGAVI - 590 001
     KARNATAKA.

8.   SHYAMANANDA B. POOJERI
     AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS,
     KODACHAVADA
     KHANAPURA,
     BELAGAVI - 590 001.

9.   PRAMOODASURYAKANTHAKOCHERI
     AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS,
     KODACHAVADA,
     BELAGAVI - 590 001
     KARNATAKA.
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                                 CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




10. MARUTHI PAKEERA GOWDA KOPPADA
    AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS,
    SALAHALLI, RAMADURGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001
    KARNATAKA.

11. BASANAGOWD PAKEERAGOWDAKOLANDORA
    AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS,
    BYLAHONGALA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001
    KARNATAKA.

12. YUVARAJA ANANTHA JADAVA
    AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,
    NO. 547
    BALEKUNDRI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001
    KARNATAKA.

13. RATHNAESHWARAGODI
    AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS,
    MOUNESHWARA NAGARA
    BYLAHONGALA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

14. MANJULA GURUSIDDHYAHEEREMATH
    AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,
    KALLOLLI, MUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

15. VIDYARANI SOMAPPASONNADA
    AGED 45 YEARS,
    SAVADATTI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.
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                               CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




16. KAMALAVVA BASAVARAJA MANGOJI,
    AGE 41 YEARS,
    ERANATI TA. GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

17. GOWRAVVARAYAPPA PATIL
    AGE 50 YEARS,
    NANDAGAON
    GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

18. SRIDEVI ASHOKA TADAKODA,
    AGE 50 YEARS,
    BASAVANAGAR
    GOKAKA,
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

19. LAKKAPPA LAKSHMAN KOLAVI
    AGED 27 YEARS,
    MAMADAPURA
    GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

20. RAJESH ASHOKA MARALINGANAVARA
    AGE 38 YEARS,
    AKKATANGERAHALA
    GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

21. MALLAPPA KALLAPPA KAUJALAGI,
    AGE 47 YEARS,
    PAMALDINNI
    GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.
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                              CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




22. SHIVANANDA SIDDHALINGAPPA PATIL
    AGE 45 YEARS,
    NABAPURA, GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

23. SANTOSH TATYASABAHUNDEKAR
    AGE 50 YEARS,
    GOKAK, JAIWAGALLI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

24. NAGALINGA HANMANTHAPPA POTADARA,
    AGE 62 YEARS,
    SHINDHIKURBATE
    GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

25. PARASURAMA YALLAPPAGODI
    AGE 43 YEARS,
    DASANATTI
    GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

26. JYOTI MAHALINGAKOLDARA
    AGED 44 YEARS
    BASAVA NAGAR
    GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

27. MOHAMMADSHAFI ISMAIL JAMADAR
    AGE 41 YEARS,
    SINGLAPURA
    GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

28. VASANT BABURAO DESAI
    AGE 31 YEARS,
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                                  CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




    LONDA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

29. VIJAYA KRISHNAJI KAMATA
    AGE 61 YEARS,
    NANDAGADA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

30. KIRAN TANAJI YALLURAKAR
    AGE 53 YEARS,
    KHANAPURA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

31. JYOTIA PRAHLADA REHMANI
    AGE 48 YEARS,
    JADANAVAGA.
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

32. MARUTI DEVAPPA PATIL,
    AGE 43 YEARS.
    JAMBOTI,
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

33. MALLAPPA KALLAPPAMARIHALA,
    AGE 48 YEARS
    JAMBOTI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

34. MEHANTESHAMAHADEVA PATIL,
    AGE 43 YEARS
    NANDAGADA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

35. SUNIL SIVASHANKAR MADDIMANI
    AGE 30 YEARS,
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                                CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




    MAGANAKOPPA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

36. PRADEEPA BASAVARAJASANIKOPPA,
    AGE 43 YEARS,
    THOLAGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

37. VIRUPAKSHA MALLIKARJUNASAKRI
    AGE 43 YEARS
    BICHAGUPPI
    RAMADURGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

38. YALLAPPARAMASWAMIKURI,
    AGE 43 YEARS
    RAMADURGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

39. REKHA MAHADEVA CHINNAKATTI,
    AGE 38 YEARS,
    TORANAGATTI
    RAMADURGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

40. SARASWATI BASAVARAJAHAIBATTI,
    AGE 53 YEARS,
    KULLOLLI
    KITTOOR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

41. BASAVARAJA SRISHAILAKADROLLI
    AGE 39 YEARS,
    KADATHANALA
    KITTOOR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.
                          -8-
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                                  CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




42. GANGAPPA APPANNAKARIKATTI,
    AGE 68 YEARS.
    KITTUR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

43. SRIKHARA KESHAWARAO KULKARNI
    AGE 50 YEARS,
    TIGADI, KITTOOR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

44. SUWARNA SHIVANANDA HANJI
    AGE 53 YEARS, MALLAPUR, KITTOOR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

45. ERAPPA VIRUPAKSHABADIGERA
    AGE - 48 YEARS
    THIGADOLLI, KITTOOR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

46. NIRMALA SURESHA VALISHETTI,
    AGE 41 YEARS,
    MARIHALA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

47. JYOTHI SANJAY KULKARNI
    AGE: 49 YEARS
    GANESHAPURA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

48. SHOBHA GANGAPPAHULAMANI
    AGED 45 YEARS
    MUDALAGI VILLAGE
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

49. CHETHANA SURESHAGSEGERA
    AGED 39 YEARS
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                                      NC: 2024:KHC:47723
                                 CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




    HINDALAGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

50. VASANTHA GOPALA PATIL
    AGED 57 YEARS
    NILAGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

51. RAVI LOKAPPAKOTABAGI
    AGED 33 YEARS
    SRI RAMA COLONY
    SHINDOLLI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

52. YALLESHA SIDDAPPA KOLAKARA
    AGED 37 YEARS
    PANTHABALEKUNDRI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

53. UMESHA GANAPATHA PURI
    AGED 46 YEARS
    MUTTAAGA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

54. SHALU PHILIPHFERNANDIS
    AGED 58 YEARS
    UCCHAGAVA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

55. YAMANAPPA GANGAPPA CHIKKANNAVAR
    AGED 56 YEARS
    WAKKUNDA
    BAILHONGAL
    BELAGAVI - 591 102.
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                                   CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




56. RAMESH SIDDAPPA YALLAPPA GOWDA
    AGED 55 YEARS
    BYLAWADA
    BAILAHONGALA
    BELAGAVI - 591 102.

57. BASAVARAJA ERAPPA NESARAGI
    AGED 30 YEARS
    KURUBARA GALLI
    BAILAHONGALA
    BELAGAVI - 591 102.

58. SUSHILA ASHOKA MALALI
    AGED 51 YEARS
    KULAGODAMUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.

59. MAHANANDA BELAGALI
    AGED 38 YEARS
    KULGODA MUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.

60. SANJU BALAPPAHOSAMANI
    AGE 45 YEARS
    KULGODAMUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.

61. AVANNA SIVARAYAPPA DABBANAVAR
    AGED 49 YEARS
    HUNSHYALA MUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.

62. SIDDU VITHALAKANKANWADI
    AGED 38 YEARS
    ARAMBHAVI MUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.
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                                   CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




63. CHETANA SHIVALINGAIYA NISHANIMATH
    AGE 41 YEARS
    MUDALAGI
    BELAGAVI - 591 312.

64. BHIMAPPA LAKSHMAPPAGOWDAPPA S.,
    AGE 51 YEARS,
    KALARAKOPPA, GOKAK
    BELAGAVI - 591 307.

65. ERAPPA SARALA DHWALESHWAR
    AGE 54 YEARS,
    ARABHAMVI
    BELAGAVI - 591 307.

66. ANANDA KENCHAPPAMOODALAGI
    AGE 53 YEARS
    ADIBATTI
    GOKAKA
    BELAGAVI - 591 307.

67. BASAVARAJA KALLAPPAMALEDA
    AGE 48 YEARS,
    ARABHAMVI
    BELAGAVI - 591 218.

68. BHAGYA VIJAYA AMATE
    AGE- 40 YEARS,
    MUNAVALLI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

69. RAJASEKHARA KARAJAGI
    AGE 42 YEARS,
    RAMAPURA SITE
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.
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                                CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




70. VINAYAKUMAR CHANDRAKANTA DESAI
    AGE 45 YEARS
    TALLURA
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

71. CHANDRASEKHARA SHIVAPPAALAGODI
    AGE - 47 YEARS, RAINAPUR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

72. MURUGHANDRAGOWDA SIDDAGOWDA PATIL
    AGE 43 YEARS
    PATILA GALLI
    KANABARGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

73. BHAIRAGOWDA BALAGOWDA PATIL
    AGE 50 YEARS,
    PATILA GALLI
    KANABARGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

74. PARASURAMA DODDAPPASUNTAKA
    AGE 47 YEARS,
    JYOTIRLINGA GALLI
    KANABARGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

75. SHIVAJI YASHWANT SUNTAKA
    AGE 61 YEARS,
    JYOTIRLINGA GALLA
    KANABARGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

76. BASAVARAJ CHANNABASAPPAHANNIKERI
    AGE 51 YEARS,
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                                   CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




    BASAVANKUDACHI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

77. SHITALA BASAVANT PATIL
    AGED 55 YEARS
    BASAVANKUDACHI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

78. SURESH MARUTI YADAVA
    AGE 55 YEARS,
    RAMTHEERTHA NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

79. MAHANTESH ADIVAPPAVAKKUNDA
    AGE 55 YEARS,
    RAMATHEERTHA NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

80. IRAYYA BAPU
    KHOTA CASTE
    AGE 51 YEARS,
    RAMATHEERTHA NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

81. SADANANDA MALLESHGUNDAPPA
    AGE 32 YEARS,
    MARUTI NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

82. RAJU BALAGONDA MAGADUMMA
    AGE 52 YEARS,
    ASHOKA NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

83. GANESH LAXMAN CHOWGULA
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                                    CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




     AGE 31 YEARS,
     GANGAWADI
     BELAGAVI - 590 001.

84. ERANNA GIRIMALLAPPA DEYANNAVAR
    AGE 55 YEARS,
    KULKARNI LAY OUT
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

85. SHASIBHUSHAN SHIVANAGOWDA PATIL
    AGE 55 YEARS,
    MAHANTESH NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

86. PRAKASH SIDDARAYA MUCHANDIKAR
    AGE 47 YEARS,
    KUMBARA GALLI
    KANABARGI
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

87. BASAVAPRABHU PATILA
    AGE 45 YEARS,
    RAMATHEERTHA NAGAR
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.

88. GURURAJA LINGANA GOWDA PATIL
    AGE 48 YEARS,
    RAMATHEERTHA NAGAR,
    BELAGAVI - 590 001.
                                             ...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI VASANTHA KUMARA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1.   STATE OF KARNATAKA
     APMC YARD POLICE STATION,
                              - 15 -
                                           NC: 2024:KHC:47723
                                      CRL.P No. 12289 of 2024




     BELAGAVI, KARNATAKA,
     REPRESENTED BY
     STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
     HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
     BENGALURU - 560 001.

2.   THE POLICE INSPECTOR
     APMC POLICE STATION,
     BELAGAVI URBAN - 590 001.
                                              ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI B.N.JAGADEESHA, ADDL.SPP)

     THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 528
OF BHARATIYA NAGARIK SURAKSHA SANHITA 2023 PRAYING
TO QUASH THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS INITIATED AGAINST
THE PETITIONERS WHICH IS PENDING ON THE FILE OF 42ND
ACMM (SPECIAL COURT TO DEAL WITH CRIMINAL CASES
RELATED TO MP'S/MLA'S AS TRIABLE BY MAGISTRATE IN
STATE OF KARNATAKA) AT BANGALORE IN C.C.NO.14396/2022
FOR THE OFFENCES P/U/S 5(1), 5(4) OF THE KARNATAKA
EPIDEMIC DISEASES ACT, 2020.



    THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:


CORAM:    HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA


                        ORAL ORDER

The petitioners are before this Court calling in question

the proceedings in C.C.No.14396 of 2022, registered for

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NC: 2024:KHC:47723

offences punishable under Sections 5(1) and 5(4) of the

Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020.

2. Heard Sri. Vasantha Kumara, learned counsel

appearing for the petitioners and Sri. Jagadeesha B.N., learned

Additional State Public Prosecutor, appearing for respondents.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that

the issue in the lis stands covered by the judgment rendered by

this Court in Crl.P.No.3328 of 2023, disposed on

16.06.2023, wherein this Court has held as follows:

"7. The issue lies in a narrow compass. What triggers registration of the crime is a rally that was held by the Congress party, the President of which is the petitioner. On 10-01-2022, when the rally was in its motion, the President i.e., the petitioner between 11.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. visits Vishwodaya High School. The children of the school came out of their classes and posed for a picture with the President. This incident becomes a crime in Crime No.3 of 2022 for the afore-quoted offences. What is alleged against the petitioner is, violation of the provisions of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act and Section 75 of the Act. The violation is in particular to Section 5(3A) of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act and Section 75 of the Act. Therefore, it becomes germane to notice those provisions of law. Section 5 of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act reads as follows:

"5. Prohibition of Contravention or obstruction of Public Servant.--(1) No person, institution or company shall

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NC: 2024:KHC:47723

contravene or disobey any of the provisions of Section 4, rules, regulation or order made under this Act.

(2) No person shall obstruct any officer or any public servant while acting or purporting to act or discharging any duty in pursuance to any provisions of this Act, rules, regulations or orders made there under.

(3) No person shall indulge in any act of violence against a public servant or cause any damage or loss to any public or private property during an epidemic.

(3-A) whoever contravenes the provisions of sub- section (1) shall be punished with such fine as may be prescribed in rules or in regulations, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to three months or with both.

(4) Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of sub- section (2) or (3) shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months, but which may extend to five years and with fine, which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees, but which may extend to two lakh rupees.

(5) Whoever, while committing an act of violence against a public servant, causes grievous hurt as defined in Section 320 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860) to such person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than one lakh rupees, but which may extend to five lakh rupees."

(Emphasis supplied)

Section 5(3A) mandates that whoever contravenes sub-section (1) shall be punished in terms of sub-section (3A). Sub-section (1) concerns that any person, institution or company contravening or disobeying any provisions of Section 4, Rules or Regulations made under the Act would become an offence and the offence would become punishable under sub-section (3A).

8. Therefore, it becomes germane to notice Section 4 of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act as the contravention of Section 4 would result in an offence under Section 5. Section 4 of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act reads as follows:

- 18 -

NC: 2024:KHC:47723

"4. Power to take special measures and specify regulations as to epidemic disease.--(1) When at any time the Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by or threatened with an outbreak of any epidemic disease, the Government may take such measures, as it deems necessary for the purpose, by notification in the Official Gazette specify such temporary regulations or orders to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons so as to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof and require or empower Deputy Commissioner and/or Municipal Commissioners to exercise such powers and duties as may be specified in the said regulations or orders.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Government may take measures and specify regulations,--

(a) to prohibit any usage or act which the Government considers sufficient to spread or transmit epidemic diseases from person to person in any gathering, celebration, worship or other such activities within the State;

(b) to inspect the persons entering the State by air, rail, road, sea or any other means or in quarantine or in isolation, in hospital, temporary accommodation, home or otherwise of persons suspected of being infected with any such disease by the officers authorized in the regulation or orders;

(c) to seal State or district borders for such period as may be deemed necessary;

(d) to impose restrictions on the operation of public and private transport;

(e) to prescribe social distancing norms;

(f) to restrict or prohibit congregation of persons in public places and religious institutions;

(g) to regulate or restrict the functioning of offices, Government and Private and educational institutions in the State;

(h) to impose prohibition or restrictions on the functioning of shops and commercial establishments, factories, workshops and godowns;

(i) to restrict duration of services in essential or emergency services such as banks, media, health care, food supply, electricity, water, fuel, etc.,;

- 19 -

NC: 2024:KHC:47723

(j) to restrict social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural or religious functions or gatherings; and

(k) such other measures as may be necessary for the regulation and prevention of epidemic diseases as decided by the Government."

Section 4 mandates that in order to take special measures and specify regulations as to epidemic disease, the Government by a notification in the Official Gazette specify such temporary regulations or orders to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons so as to prevent the outbreak of such disease. Therefore, the fulcrum of Section 4 is issuance of a notification in the Official Gazette notifying temporary regulations or orders. It is after such notification under Section 4, if a person contravenes or disobeys those Regulations so notified, it would become an offence under Section 5 for contravention of Regulations notified under Section 4.

9. It is admitted fact that no notification is issued by the State Government under Section 4 of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act. If there is no notification issued under Section 4, an offence under Section 5 cannot be laid against any person as there is no regulation that a person would contravene as contravention of the Regulations cannot be imaginary. Therefore, the very offence alleged against the petitioner was fundamentally flawed.

10. The other offence alleged is under Section 75 of the Act. Section 75 of the Act reads as follows:

"75. Punishment for cruelty to child.--Whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a child, assaults, abandons, abuses, exposes or wilfully neglects the child or causes or procures the child to be assaulted, abandoned, abused, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental or physical suffering, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine of one lakh rupees or with both:

Provided that in case it is found that such abandonment of the child by the biological parents is due to circumstances

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NC: 2024:KHC:47723

beyond their control, it shall be presumed that such abandonment is not wilful and the penal provisions of this section shall not apply in such cases:

Provided further that if such offence is committed by any person employed by or managing an organisation, which is entrusted with the care and protection of the child, he shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend up to five years, and fine which may extend up to five lakhs rupees:

Provided also that on account of the aforesaid cruelty, if the child is physically incapacitated or develops a mental illness or is rendered mentally unfit to perform regular tasks or has risk to life or limb, such person shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment, not less than three years but which may be extended up to ten years and shall also be liable to fine of five lakhs rupees."

Section 75 makes it an offence if the person who is in-charge of the child or has control over the child assaults, abandons, abuses, exposes or willfully neglects the child or causes or procures the child to be assaulted, abandoned, abused, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to cause the child unnecessary mental or physical suffering shall become punishable for a term which may extend upto 3 years.

11. The fact that leads to the said allegation is that, the petitioner posed for a picture with the children at Vishwodaya High School, Kanakapura Taluk. The children were neither under the care or protection of the petitioner nor was he in-charge of the children. The children come out of the classes for the picture and the matter ends there. The petitioner did not have any control or in- charge over the children. The very offence is loosely laid against the petitioner, much less to say he is alleged of assault, abandoning, abusing or exposing or neglecting the children. The aforesaid facts cannot even lead to the alleged offences against the petitioner.

12. The Police have also filed a charge sheet in the matter alleging that Government has notified a Standard Operating Procedure during Covid-19 on 04-01-2022, and therefore, there has been violation of the provisions of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020. The very summary of the charge sheet clearly indicates that it is laid on imaginary lines. A trivial act which does not contain any of the ingredients of the afore-quoted

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NC: 2024:KHC:47723

offences, is laid against the petitioner. A perusal at the summary of the charge sheet would indicate the reason behind filing of the charge sheet. The summary insofar as such indication reads as follows:

"PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀªÀÅ PÉÆÃ«qï-19 ¸ÁAPÁæ«ÄPÀ gÉÆÃUÀ ºÀgÀqÀĪÀÅzÀ£ÀÄß vÀqÀUÀlÄÖªÀ ¸À®ÄªÁV ºÉÆgÀr¹zÀÝ RD/158/TNR/2020 Date 04/01/2022 PÉÆÃ«qï-19 ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaAiÀÄ£ÀÄß G®èAX¹, ªÀÄPÀ̼ÀÄUÀ½AzÀ "£ÀªÀÄä ¤ÃgÀÄ, £ÀªÄÀ ä ºÀPÄÀ Ì" JA§ WÉÆÃµÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀÆV¹, ªÀÄPÀ̼À£ÀÄß gÁdQÃAiÀĪÁV ¥ÉæÃgɦvÀUÉÆ¼ÀÄîªÀAvÉ ªÀiÁr, ¸ÀPÁðj ºÉÆgÀr¹gÀĪÀ RD/158/TNR/2020 Date 04/01/2022 PÉÆÃ«qï-19 ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaAiÀÄ£ÀÄß G®èAX¹gÀĪÀÅzÀÄ vÀ¤SɬÄAzÀ zÀÈqsÀ¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ."

The petitioner appears to have made the children to eco with him "£ÀªÀÄä ¤ÃgÀÄ, £ÀªÀÄä ºÀPÀÄÌ". This is said to be politically influencing the children of the High School who are below 15 years of age. Therefore, none of the allegations made against the petitioner are even present in the case at hand and if only for the reason that charge sheet is filed against the petitioner, further proceedings are permitted to continue it would become an abuse of the process of law and result in miscarriage of justice.

13. For the aforesaid reasons, I pass the following:

ORDER

(i) Criminal petition is allowed.

(ii) FIR in Crime No.3 of 2022 dated 12-01-2022 registered by the Sathanoor Police Station and Charge Sheet filed in C.C.No.1663 of 2022 pending before the I Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division) & JMFC, Kanakapura, Ramanagara District stand quashed.

(iii) It is made clear that the observations made in the course of the order are only for the purpose of consideration of the case of the petitioner under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. and the same shall not bind or influence the proceedings against the other accused pending before the concerned Court."

4. In the light of the order passed by this Court

(supra) and for the reasons mentioned therein, the following:

- 22 -

                                                 NC: 2024:KHC:47723





                                ORDER


      (i)    The Criminal Petition is allowed.


(ii) The proceedings in C.C.No.14396/2022 pending on the file of the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan magistrate, Bengaluru, qua the petitioners, stand quashed.

Consequently, I.A.No.1 of 2024 also stands disposed.

Sd/-

(M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE

BKP

 
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