- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR CRIMINAL PETITION NO. 102721 OF 2023 (482(Cr.PC)/528(BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. LAXMI MARUTI MUKRI AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. HOSAHITLA VALAGALLI, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581332. 2. GANAPTHI RAM GADIGA AGE. 38 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. HOSAHITLA VALAGALLI, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581332. 3. BASKAR NAGAPPA HARIKANTRA AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. MATA KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 4. MAHABALESHWAR MAHADEV HEGADE AGE. 38 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KADLI HOLANAGADDE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 5. MANJUNATH SHESHAGIRI SHET AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. HOSAHIRAVATTA NIRA KERE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 6. NAYANA MANJUNATH SHET AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. HOSAHIRAVATTA NIRA KERE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 7. GURUNATH SHANKAR GOUDA AGE. 42 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, Digitally signed by B K MAHENDRAKUMAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2025.02.28 12:29:53 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 8. CHIDANAND HARI BHANDARI AGE. 38 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 9. BABBU DEVU PATGAR AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 10. ANURADHA K BHAT AGE. 43 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 11. NAVEEN RAMCHANDRA NAYAK AGE. 43 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 12. SHAILA MANJUNATH GOUDA AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. BAGGON, TQ. KUMTA-581332, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581332. 13. PRATEEK PRAKASH SHETTI AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. COURT ROAD KUMAT, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 14. YOGESH ISHWAR PATGAR AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. GRAM VAKKAL MELINAKERI, HEDGE, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 15. SEEMA VENKATESH KINI AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. CHITRAGI, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 16. MOHINI GIRISH GOUDA AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. APPI ONI NELLIKERI, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 17. GOURI ULLAS VAIDYA AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. GUDIGARGALLI, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 18. ULLAS MAHABALESHAR VAIDYA / VAIDU AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. TULASIKATTE, GUDIGARAGALLI, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNAD-581343. 19. MAHESH KAMALAKAR NAIK AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. BAGGON, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581332. 20. JOYSON PAVLU DSOUZA AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. GRAM VAKKAL, MELINAKERI, HEGDE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 21. MADEVI RAMESH MUKRI AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. HALAKAR, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581362. 22. SHIVAKUMAR NAGAPPA KAVARI AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. NADAR, TORKE, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581344. 23. SACHIN VENKATESH NAYAK AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. HOSA, HERAVATTA, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581332. 24. NITYANANDA GOLI NAIK AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. VANNALLI, KUMTA, - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581351. 25. PAVAN DAMODAR SHETTY AGE. 35 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. NEAR MANAKI GROUND, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 26. TULASU BEERA GOUDA AGE. 48 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. NEHARU NAGAR ROAD, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 27. JAYAPRAKSH SHET AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. COURT ROAD, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 28. DAMODAR KESHVA SHETTI AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. BEHIND MANIKI GROUND, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 29. CHINMAYA RAMAKRISHNA KAMATH AGE. 42 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. GUDIGAR GALLI, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 30. TIMMAPPA GOIDU MUKARI AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. VIVEK NAGAR, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 31. RAJESH MANJUNATH SHET AGE. 38 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. HOSAHIRAVATTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581332. 32. SARAVOTTAM VINAYAK HEGADE AGE. 45 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. GURU NAGARA, NEAR MANAKI GROUND, - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 KUMAT, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 33. RAGHAVI GANAPU NAIK AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. NADUMASKERI, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581319. 34. PRASHAD VISHNU NAYAK AGE. 50 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. OLD POST OFFICE ROAD, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 35. ANAND SUBRAY HARIKANTHRA AGE. 55 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. ETTINBAIL, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581333. 36. BHAGAVATI ANAND HARIKANTRA AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. ETTINBAIL, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581333. 37. JAYAVITTAL CHANDRAKANT KUBAL AGE. 42 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. ALAVEDANDE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 38. VIJAYENDRAKUMAR BILAGI AGE. 36 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O. MURURU ROAD, KUMTA, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581343. 39. DEEPA NAGARAJ HINI AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O. HOLANGADDE, TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581351. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. A.C.CHAKALABBI AND ASSOCIATES AND SRI. S.B.DODDAGOUDAR, ADVOCATES) - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH KUMTA PS., SPP, HIGH COURT BUILDING, DHARWAD-580011. 2. SMT. NAGARATNA W/O. MAHESH NAYAK AGE. 40 YEARS, OCC. GOVT. EMPLOYEE, R/O. TALUK PANCHAYAT KUMTA TQ. KUMTA, DIST. UTTAR KANNADA-581343. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ASHOK T.KATTIMANI, AGA FOR R1; NOTICE TO R2 IS SERVED) THIS CRIMINAL PETITION FILED U/SEC 482 OF CR.P.C. SEEKING TO, ALLOW THE ABOVE CRIMINAL PETITION BY QUASHING THE ENTIRE PROCEEDINGS IN KUMTA PS CRIME NO. 95/2023 REGISTERED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCES P/U/SEC. 171H OF IPC PENDING ON THE FILE OF PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR. DN) AND JMFC KUMTA IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONERS 1 TO 39 I.E. ACCUSED NUMBERS AS MENTIONED IN CAUSE TITLE BELOW THE NAME OF THE PETITIONERS 1 TO 39. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR ORAL ORDER The petitioners are being prosecuted for an offence punishable under Section 171H of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 2. The prosecution alleges that during the visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, who was campaigning on behalf of a political party, the petitioners, without obtaining the necessary permission from the Election Authority, allegedly booked a bus to transport voters to the venue. The petitioners contend that they neither organized the rally nor were responsible for transporting - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 voters to the venue; rather, they claim to have been mere passengers in the vehicle. Hence, the essential elements required to constitute an offence under Section 171H of the IPC are conspicuously absent. 3. Section 171H is a non-cognizable offence, and under the law, the Magistrate is required to grant permission under Section 155(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Cr.P.C.) with proper reasoning. However, in this case, the Magistrate passed an order under Section 155(2) of the Cr.P.C. without providing any reasons, which is contrary to the guidelines issued by this Court in Vaggeppa Gurulinga Jangaligi (Jangalagi) v. State of Karnataka, reported in 2019 SCC OnLine Kar 2708. Paragraph 20 of that judgment mandates that specific reasons must be recorded by the Magistrate when granting such permission. “20. Therefore, under Rule I, the Magistrate shall endorse on the report whether the same has been received by post or muddam. Under Rule 2, Magistrate has to specify in his order the rank and designation of the police officer or the police officer by whom the investigation shall be conducted. Considering the mandatory requirement of Section 155(1) and (2) of Cr.P.C. and Rule 1 and 2 of Chapter V of the Karnataka Criminal Rules of Practice, this Court proceed to laid down the following guidelines for the benefit of the judicial Magistrate working in the State. i) The Jurisdictional Magistrates shall stop hereafter making endorsement as 'permitted' on the police requisition itself. Such an endorsement is not an - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 order in the eyes of law and as mandated under Section 155(2) of Cr.P.C. ii) When the requisition is submitted by the informant to the Jurisdictional Magistrate, he should make an endorsement on it as to how it was received, either by post or by Muddam and direct the office to place it before him with a separate order sheet. No order should be passed on the requisition itself. The said order sheet should be continued for further proceedings in the case. iii) When the requisition is submitted to the Jurisdictional Magistrate, he has to first examine whether the SHO of the police station has referred the informant to him with such requisition. iv) The Jurisdictional Magistrate should examine the contents of the requisition with his/her judicious mind and record finding as to whether it is a fit case to be investigated, if the Magistrate finds that it is not a fit case to investigate, he/she shall reject the prayer made in the requisition. Only after his/her subjective satisfaction that there is a ground to permit the police officer to take up the investigation, he/she shall record a finding to that effect permitting the police officer to investigate the non-cognizable offence. v) In case the Magistrate passes the orders permitting the investigation, he/she shall specify the rank and designation of the Police Officer who - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3767 CRL.P No. 102721 of 2023 has to investigate the case, who shall be other than informant or the complainant.” 3. In light of the above, the continuation of investigation against the petitioners would constitute an abuse of the process of law. ORDER i. Accordingly, the petition is allowed. ii. The FIR registered in Crime.No.95/2023 by Kumata Police Station in respect of petitioners/accused herein is hereby quashed. SD/- (HEMANT CHANDANGOUDAR) JUDGE TIN Ct:vh List No.: 2 Sl No.: 5