- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32174 WP No. 24504 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 24504 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: MR CHANDRASHEKAR R K S/O KRISHNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO. 54, 2ND MAIN ROAD, BEST COUNTRY 3, VINAYAK NAGAR, VIDYARANYAPURA, BENGALURU - 560097. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SAMPOORNA NEWS 24X7. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. GAJENDRA B S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE CHIEF SECRETARY THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA ROOM NO. 320, 3RD FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001. 2. THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, NO. 105, 1ST FLOOR, VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001. Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32174 WP No. 24504 of 2025 3. THE CHAIRMAN, KANNADA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ROOM NO. 263, 2ND FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001. 4. THE DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION 9TH FLOOR, VISVESVARAYA TOWERS, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR ROAD, BENGALURU - 560001. 5. THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER, BBMP BRUHAT BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE, HEAD OFFICE, N.R. SQUARE, BENGALURU 560002. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAHUL CARIAPPA, AGA FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. P. PAWAN KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R5) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO FORTHWITH CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE PETITIONERS REPRESENTATION DTD 4.07.2025 VIDE ANNX-A AND ENSURE THAT ALL ADVERTISEMENT PACKAGING AND WARNING FOR GUTKA CIGARETTERS AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS WITHIN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA MANDATORILY CONTAIN KANNADA LANGUAGE; DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO FRAME AND ENFORCE SUITABLE GUIDELINES AND POLICIES REQUIRING THE COMPULSORY USE OF KANNADA LANGUAGE IN ALL TOBACCO RELATED ADVERTISEMENTS LABELS PACKAGING AND STATUTORY H EALTH WARNINGS WITHIN KARNATAKA. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32174 WP No. 24504 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD ORAL ORDER The petitioner has filed certain reports with the respondents for ensuring kannada is used in the advertisements for cigarettes and other tobacco products. When queried on the petitioner's locus, the learned counsel for the petitioner is categorically that the petitioner has no personal interest and he has filed this petition to espouse a public cause. It is salient that if the petitioner proposes to espouse a public cause in a Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it must be as a Public Interest Litigation. Therefore, subject to all just exceptions, the petition stands disposed of. The office is directed to return the original of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32174 WP No. 24504 of 2025 Annexure - A after retaining a photocopy of the same. Sd/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE RB