Thu May 29 11:32:08 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka High Court Overturns Government Order Withdrawing 43 Criminal Cases, Including Hubballi Riots Case

**Bengaluru, May 29, 2025** – The High Court of Karnataka today overturned a controversial Government Order (GO) issued in October 2024, effectively reinstating 43 criminal cases that had been withdrawn by the state government. The decision, delivered by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V. Aravind, came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bengaluru-based advocate Girish Bharadwaj.

The most notable case affected by the ruling is the 2022 Hubballi riots, where a mob attacked police personnel following a dispute over a social media post. The withdrawn cases also involved charges under stringent laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act, and the Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act.

The court declared the GO “non est from inception,” meaning it is considered invalid from the moment it was issued. This ruling means that all 43 cases will resume at the stage where they were withdrawn, regardless of any progress made since the initial withdrawal.

The petitioner argued that the GO violated Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which grants sole authority to the prosecutor to initiate withdrawal from prosecution. Bharadwaj contended that the state Cabinet lacked the power to direct the prosecutor to drop the cases. The petition also highlighted that the Cabinet’s decision contradicted the opinions of the police and prosecution departments, who deemed the cases unsuitable for withdrawal.

Furthermore, the petition drew attention to a previous High Court ruling from 2022, which clarified that the withdrawal of cases against former and present MPs and MLAs requires permission from the respective High Courts, following a Supreme Court judgment. Several of the cases involved former Ministers, former MLAs, and individuals associated with influential organizations.

The court’s decision is expected to have significant legal and political ramifications, raising questions about the process of withdrawing criminal cases and the role of the state government in such matters.

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