Karnataka High Court Weekly Roundup: September 08 - September 14, 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 299 to 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 305

Nominal Index:

Mrs Maheshwari M AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 299

Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited AND Malathi B & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 300

SRI HONNESHWARASWAMY DEVASTHANA JEERNODHARA SEVA SAMITHI TRUST (R) AND State of Karnataka & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 301

Chandrappa AND State of Karnataka & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 302

Sunil H Bohra & Others AND Assistant Commissioner & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 303

State Bank of India AND M/s Swait Agencies & Others. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 304

Vikas Kumar S J AND State of Karnataka & ANR. 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 305

Judgments/Orders

Karnataka High Court Imposes ₹2 Lakh Cost On 72-Yr-Old Woman For Filing 'Frivolous' Habeas Corpus Plea

Case Title: Mrs Maheshwari M AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WPHC NO. 81 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 299

The Karnataka High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 2 lakh on a 72-year-old woman for filing a habeas corpus petition with an ulterior motive to take revenge against the police, after being dissatisfied with the probe conducted by the police on a complaint given by her.

A division bench of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice Rajesh Rai K while dismissing the petition filed by Maheshwari M said “We are of the view that in order to curb frivolous and malicious invocation of habeas corpus to protect the judicial process, it is necessary to impose punitive costs on such litigants. In that view of the matter, we dismiss this petition by imposing costs of Rs.2,00,000 on the petitioner who has approached this Court with unclean hands by suppression of facts.”

Pensionary Benefits Can't Be Withheld Indefinitely On Account Of Possible Disciplinary Proceedings In Future: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited AND Malathi B & ANR

Case No: WRIT APPEAL NO. 1577 OF 2024.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 300

The Karnataka High Court has said that pensionary and retiral benefits of a former employee cannot be withheld indefinitely on account of a possible disciplinary proceedings on a future date.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi held thus while dismissing appeal by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited against single judge's order directing the company to pay all retirement benefits–death-cum-retirement gratuity, entitlement for leave encashment benefit and other pensionary benefits along with interest from the date of retirement to one Malathi B. "We are not persuaded to accept that the pensionary and retiral benefits of respondent No.1 could be withheld indefinitely on account of a possible disciplinary proceedings at a future date," the bench said.

Will Withdraw Notice Banning Eating Of Non-Veg Food Around Sri Honneshwara Deity Temple: State Tells Karnataka High Court

Case Title: SRI HONNESHWARASWAMY DEVASTHANA JEERNODHARA SEVA SAMITHI TRUST (R) AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 25313/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 301

The Karnataka government informed the High Court on Wednesday that it "will withdraw notice" a notice issued by the concerned jurisdictional police stipulating not to sacrifice animals and consume non-vegetarian food around the precincts of Sri Honneshwara Deity temple located in Shivanagere Village in Tumakuru district.

The state government said that it would issue a fresh notice within a week, "limiting it only to sacrifice of animals".

Justice B M Shyam Prasad accordingly disposed of a petition filed by the Honneshwaraswamy Devasthana Jeernodhara Seva Samithi Trust (R) had challenged the notice issued to it by the police dated July 13, 2024 stipulating that no one should sacrifice or consume meat for an area around 200 meters from the temple.

Sexual Assault On Minor By Married Man Is Unpardonable, Society Must Be More Vigilant Towards Those From Weaker Sections: Karnataka HC

Case Title: Chandrappa AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 75 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 302

The Karnataka High Court recently observed that the act of sexual assault on a minor girl by a married man is unpardonable and has to be viewed strictly, not only in order to restore the confidence in the minds of children and women, but also to send a strong signal to society at large.

It held, “It is noticed here that, the victim belongs to Scheduled Caste and she is so susceptible to persons like appellant, for the purpose of exploitation. Hence, it is high time to send a strong signal to the society at large to be more vigilant on women and children belonging to weaker sections of the society.”

'Nation's Wealth Measured By Care For Elderly': Karnataka HC Suggests Increase In ₹10K Cap On Maintenance Under Senior Citizens Act

Case Title: Sunil H Bohra & Others AND Assistant Commissioner & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION No.13448 OF 2021

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 303

The Karnataka High Court has recommended to the Union Government to revisit Section 9 of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, which prescribes a ceiling of Rs 10,000 which can be ordered to be paid as maintenance to senior citizens by the Tribunal.

Justice M Nagaprasanna said “This Court deems it fit to recommend, with earnestness that the Union revisit Section 9 and revise the ceiling in tune with the cost of living index, so that the Act may not be reduced to a hollow promise, but remain a living guarantee of dignity in old age, as the Nation's wealth is not measured by its material progress, but by the welfare of the child and the care of the elderly-old.”

It also opined, “The Court laments of neglected elders and resonates as a clarion call to the legislature that the aged must not be abandoned to indignity, that maintenance must match reality and the twilight of life must not be shadowed by want, but illuminated by care.”

S.14 SARFAESI Act | Possession Delivery Warrant Of Secured Asset Not Subject To Third Party Rights: Karnataka High Court

Case Title: State Bank of India AND M/s Swait Agencies & Others

Case No: WRIT PETITION NO. 105775 OF 2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 304

The Karnataka High Court has said that once the property is said to be a secured property (secured asset), it would be subject to Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI) and cannot be made subject to rights of any third parties.

The court said that any person having any interest in the secured interest cannot agitate that claim before the magistrate exercising powers under Section 14, but he has to avail remedy under Section 17 by filing appeal before the Debts Recovery Tribunal.

Karnataka High Court Quashes Attempt To Murder Case Against IAF Officer Involved In Road Rage Incident

Case Title: Vikas Kumar S J AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: CRIMINAL PETITION NO.12352 OF 2025 C/W CRIMINAL PETITION NO.6267 OF 2025.

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 305

The Karnataka High Court recently quashed an attempt to murder case registered against an Indian Air Force Officer, who was involved in a road rage fight with a call centre employee in Bengaluru.

Notably the video of the fight between the accused Shiladitya Bose and one Vikas Kumar S J had gone viral on social media. Initially based on the complaint filed by Bose's wife Madhumita, who is a squadron leader and was driving the car when the incident occurred the Byappanahalli police, arrested Kumar under sections 115(2), 116(H), 117(1), 118(1), 126(2), 3(5), 324, 351, 352 OF BNS 2023.

However, acting on cross complaint filed by Kumar and on going through the CCTv footage the police had registered the case against the Air Force officer under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 304 (snatching for theft), 324 (crime of mischief), 352 (intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace. Soon after the incident Bose had posted a video on social media claiming he was assaulted and verbally abused by a man in a road rage incident in Bengaluru, allegedly claiming that the biker assaulted him for not speaking Kannada.