- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35186 WP No. 12516 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 12516 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: SRI. S. M. NAGARAJ S/O LATE MUNIYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.126, 1ST MAIN ROAD, SINGAPURA VILLAGE, BANGALORE -560 097. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AKARSH KUMAR GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. V. CHANDRAPPA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA HOME SECRETARIAT, VIDHAN SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560 001. Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35186 WP No. 12516 of 2025 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NORTH EAST DIVISION, BENGALURU CITY - 560 092. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, YELAHANKA SUB DIVISION, BENGALURU CITY - 560 064. 4. THE POLICE SUB INSPECTOR, VIDYARANYAPURA POLICE STATION BENGALURU CITY - 560 097. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.K.P. YASHODHA., AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO- DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS AS PER ANNX-F DATED 13.03.2023 ANNX-F1 DATED 02.04.2025, AND ANNX-F2 02.04.2025 AND TO REMOVE THE PETITIONERS NAME FROM THE ROWDY SHEETERS LIST. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35186 WP No. 12516 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioner is aggrieved with the continuation of his name as a rowdy sheeter with the jurisdictional Police. The petitioner asserts that multiple representations have been given for a review of the decision to mention his name as a rowdy sheeter and that those representations have not been considered by the respondents. Sri V. Chandrappa, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the respondents have mentioned the petitioner as a rowdy sheeter because of the criminal proceedings initiated by those with whom there are certain civil disputes. The learned counsel submits that: [a] the proceedings in CC No. 13839 of 2021 is quashed by this Court in Criminal Petition No. 1348 of 2022 on 21.03.2025 and in the other criminal proceedings in CC No. 13848 of 2021 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35186 WP No. 12516 of 2025 the petitioner has been acquitted after trial on 29.02.2024. [b] notwithstanding the turn of events, the respondents have not taken any decision to review the decision to mention the petitioner as a rowdy sheeter. Ms. K.P.Yashoda, the learned Additional Government Advocate, is heard in the light of this grievance and a decision of the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in WP No. 4504 of 2021 and connected writ petitions. This Court, in the aforesaid decision while emphasizing that the decision to describe somebody as a rowdy sheeter cannot be cast in iron and must be examined periodically, has evolved a set of guidelines; and in terms of these guidelines, the jurisdictional Police will have to compulsorily undertake suo motu review once in every two years. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35186 WP No. 12516 of 2025 The respondents have described the petitioner as a rowdy sheeter undisputedly in the year 2021, and this would mean in terms of the Guidelines that there should have been a suo motu review of this decision by now. The petitioner has filed a number of representations which remain unconsidered. This Court is of the view that the petition must be favoured directing the second respondent to consider the petitioner's representations and communicate the decision to the petitioner within four [4] weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. The petitioner is reserved with liberty to file a certified copy of this order with the second respondent within two [2] weeks from the date of receipt thereof. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE NV