- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 24461 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: NARYANASWAMY S/O LATE HANUMANTHAPPA AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS OCC: BUSINESS R/O NO.C-203, 2ND FLOOR C-BLOCK, AJMERA GREENS ACRES APARTMENTS KALENA AGRAHARA, B.G. ROAD BANGALORE-560083 …PETITIONER (BY SRI.C.H.JADHAV., SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI. CHETAN JADHAV., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY HOME DEPARTMENT DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI VIDHANASOUDHA BANGALORE- 560001 REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SOUTH-EAST DIVISION-BANGALORE CITY POLICE O/AT-KORAMANGALA 6TH BLOCK BANGALORE-560095 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE SOUTH-EAST SUB-DIVISION BANGALORE CITY POLICE BANGALORE RURAL- 560079 4. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE HULIMAVU POLICE STATION Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 BANGALORE-560079 REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BANGALORE- 560001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.K.P.YASHODHA, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDA, PRAYING TO WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE ENTRY OF THE NAME OF THE PETITIONER IN THE LIST OF ROWDY SHEETER MAINTAINED BY THE RESPONDENT AND RENEWAL AND CONTINUATION OF THE SAME IN CONTINUATION OF ORDER NO.CRIME ROWDY SHEET/136/ACP- M.L./2008 OFFICE OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF PL MICO- LAYOUT, DATED 06.12.2008 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.3. VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs; i. Writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the entry of the name of the petitioner in the list of Rowdy Sheeter maintained by the respondent and renewal and continuation of the same in continuation of order No. crime Rowdy Sheet/136/ACP-M.L./2008 office of Assistant Commissioner of Police Mico- Layout, dated 06.12.2008 issued by the respondent No.3. vide Annexure-A. ii. Writ in the nature of Mandamus petitioners representation under the Right to Information Act, 2008 and provide him with necessary details regarding the status of the rowdy sheet against him that was opened on 06.12.2008 vide order No. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 Crime Rowdy Sheet/136/ACP-M.L./2008 office of Assistant Commissioner of Police Mico-Layout. iii. Grant all consequential orders, and; iv. Pass such other order or orders as the case may be in the interest of justice and equity. 2. The grievance of the petitioner is that, despite no case pending as on date, a rowdy sheet continues to exist insofar as the petitioner is concerned. 3. The submission of Sri.C.H.Jadhav., learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner is that the last case was closed 16 years ago and from that time there is no case which has been filed against the petitioner, and the petitioner has been a law abiding citizen. As such, the continuation of the rowdy sheet is causing untold harm and abuse to the petitioner. 4. Learned AGA on enquiry and instructions submit that there is no case which is pending against the petitioner and all the cases have been closed. 5. If that be so, as submitted by the learned Senior counsel that last case was closed 16 years ago, it - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 was not required for the respondent to have continued the rowdy sheet against the petitioner. 6. General Directions: 6.1. The opening of a rowdy sheet is covered under Chapter-XXI of Volume-II of the Police Manual, which requires various actions to be taken, various conditions to be fulfilled, and various actions to be taken in order to open a rowdy sheet. 6.2. The said rowdy sheet is not a static document, but is a dynamic one, which would change with the passage of time and on the occurrence of events, inasmuch as a rowdy sheet can be opened on account of a complaint being pending. If in such complaints an acquittal order is passed, the natural consequence thereof would be for the rowdy sheet to be closed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 6.3. Apart therefrom, there are various other aspects which are required to be considered to continue to retain the name of the person in a rowdy sheet. 6.4. This matter is a classic example, inasmuch as the petitioner was acquitted of offences 10 years ago, and there being no new offence alleged against the petitioner, his name still continues in the rowdy sheet. 6.5. This is probably for the reason that physical registers are maintained, and with the passage of time and increase in population, it is difficult to coordinate and connect the dots between various data points, which have been entered into various registers. 6.6. It is in these circumstances, I am of the considered opinion, that the police department should be better administered in such a manner that innocent citizens are not deprived of their - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 right to life and liberty. The procedures envisaged under Chapter-XXI of Volume-II of the Police Manual are required to be e-enabled, so that all the data points are available and searchable by the police authorities concerned, as also for reminders or flagging of date points could be made. 6.7. While doing so, the possibility of E-enabling the entire police manual (3 volumes) could be considered and implemented taking into account the current state of society and the technology that is available. 6.8. The Director General of Police (Police-IT) is directed to file a detailed project report in relation to E-enabling a Police Manual (3 volumes) within a period of 4 weeks from date of receipt of copy of this order. Learned AGA is directed to bring this order to the notice of the Director General of Police. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:46712 WP No. 24461 of 2025 7. In that view of matter, I pass the following; ORDER i. The writ petition is allowed. ii. A certiorari is issued, respondents are directed to delete the name of the petitioner from the rowdy sheet maintained by the respondent within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. iii. Though the petition is disposed, re-list on 19.01.2026 for reporting compliance with general directions. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE SR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 60