Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Amendment of Karnataka Act 14 of 1993.- In the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayathraj Act, 1993 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1993), in section 281, for the words, “on conviction, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both” the words, “be punished with fine of rupees one thousand which may be extended to five thousand rupees”, shall be substituted. The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ನಿರಪರಾಧಿೀಕರಣ (ಉಪಬಂಧಗಳ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2025 (2025ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: 61) be published in the official Gazette under Article 348 of the Constitution of India. THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA By Order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka, G. SRIDHAR Secretary to Government Department of Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation KARNATAKA ACT NO. 30 OF 2026 (First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 15th day of April 2026) THE KARNATAKA GRAM SWARAJ AND PANCHAYAT RAJ (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2026 (Received the assent of the Governor on the 14th day of April 2026) An Act further to amend the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993. WHEREAS the Constitution of India, under Article 326 guarantees the right to vote through adult suffrage, ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, reflecting the democratic will of the people; WHEREAS the principle of secrecy of the ballot is a cornerstone of free and fair elections, as recognized by the Judiciary which emphasized that the secrecy of the ballot protects voters from coercion, intimidation, and undue 246 influence, thereby safeguarding the sanctity of the democratic process in several judgments of Supreme Court; WHEREAS the Supreme Court in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of India (2006) clarified that while open ballots may be permissible in specific contexts, the secret ballot remains essential for elections to ensure voter autonomy and prevent external pressures, thereby upholding the constitutional mandate of free elections; WHEREAS the Judiciary underscored the importance of voter confidence in the electoral process, introducing the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) to enhance transparency while preserving the secrecy of the ballot, and highlighted the need for continuous reforms to address vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems; WHEREAS some concerns have been raised, regarding functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) necessitating a return to the robust secret ballot paper system to restore public trust; WHEREAS the decision of the Karnataka State Government to revert to paper ballots for local body elections, in response to concerns about EVM credibility and voter privacy, reflects a growing consensus on the need to strengthen electoral mechanisms that prioritize anonymity and transparency; WHEREAS the secret ballot system, through the use of paper ballots or other anonymized mechanisms, ensures that voters can exercise their franchise without fear of retribution, promotes electoral integrity, and aligns with India’s international commitments under Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to free elections with a secret vote; WHEREAS it is expedient to enact legislation to mandate the use of a secret ballot system in all local body elections, with provisions for transparent auditing and safeguards against tampering, to uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution and reinforced by judicial pronouncements; 247 WHEREAS the State of Karnataka, in pursuance of ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections to local authorities, has resolved to amend the relevant statutes governing local bodies to mandate the adoption of a secret ballot system using paper ballots, thereby facilitating the State Election Commission in conducting elections with enhanced voter privacy and electoral integrity; AND WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 (Karnataka Act 14 of 1993) to provide for the use of a secret ballot paper system in elections to rural local authorities, thereby strengthening public confidence in the democratic process; Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the seventy seventh year of the Republic of India as follows, namely:-