Research › Search › Judgment
High Court of Karnataka · body
2025 DAILYLAW 9551 (KAR)
SMT SUMITRA v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
WA/200029/2025 · 2025-02-18
Rajesh Rai K, S Sunil Dutt Yadav
body2025
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 9551 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
[ 2025 DAILYLAW 9551 (KAR) · dailylaw.ai ]
Judgment text
Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
- 1 -
! "
#$ %
"
#$$ !!& ' ( !!)& '
! "
" # $ %&'(((! )
%&*&!(! %&*&!(! Digitally signed by BASALINGAPPA SHIVARAJ DHUTTARGAON Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
- 2 -
+ ,""
%&*&!(! &
"" $ %&*&! '
(
-
&-
*
&)
*
!(
&
!! +
- 3 -
!)
&*
! '-
!+
# &*
"
'!+
%&*&!'
#
" ! . " +
&. " ' !+
"
+"
"
)(('( " )()&
('())()& #
"
"#
- 4 -
)
)
%&*&!-
! "
" # $ %&'(((! )
%&*&!(! %&*&!(! + ,""
%&*&!(! &
"" $ %&*&!-
' #
&'
$
- 5 -
-
-
*
)
# '
!(
'
!! '
'!! %&*&!'
#
" ! . " +
&. "
" *
"
+"
"
)((&* " )()&
('())()& #
"
- 6 -
"#
" #
/ #
/ # #
$#
/ #
0 )((())()& 123 43567301 89 123 30:;6 4<=<<0>2<?<12<5><;;3760@A351680123>8443>1035589 123 84734 7<137 ('())()& B<5537 60
8)((&*)()& C2343D? 123 B3161680 96;37 D? 123 43567301 89 123 4<=< <0>2<?<1 ><;;60: 60 @A351680 123 E<;6761?891230816>3655A37D?12355651<018==65568034 >80E3060: 123 =33160: 18 >8056734 123 =81680 89 08 >8096730>3 2<5 D330 43F3>137 23 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 2<7B34=61137123B48>33760:589=816808908>8096730>3 18B48>337 0 8 )((()')()& 123 43567301 89 123 <;<:<4 4<=< <0>2<?<1 2<5 ><;;37 60 @A351680 123
- 7 -
>8443>103558912384734B<553780('())()&60 8 )(('()()& C234360 123 >2<;;30:3 18 123 0816>3 89 123 55651<018==65568034>80E3060:123=33160:18>8056734 123=816808908>8096730>32<5D33043F3>137 ) 1 65 0816>37 12<1 D812 123 847345 89 123 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 <43 <;=851 673016><; <07 2<E3 <77435537 >8==80;3:<;@A351680543;<160:181235>8B38912396451 B48E658 18 3>1680 +! 89 123 <40<1<G< 4<= C<4<F <07 <0>2<?<1 <F >1 ! 984 52841 H123 >1I <07 <>>84760:;? D812 123 <BB3<;5 <43 1<G30 AB 18:31234 <07 765B8537899D?1265>8==8084734 23 B<41635 <43 43934437 18 D? 12364 4<0G5 60 123 C461B3161680 + 0589<4<5 8)((&*)()&123=3=D34589 123 4<=< <0>2<?<1 2<7 =<73 8A1 < 43@A6561680 7<137 )(!)()& 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 3JB435560:
1236460130168018=8E3123 =816808908>8096730>3 23 47435B807301%55651<018==655680342<7655A370816>3
- 8 -
7<137 )+(!)()& >80E3060: 123 =33160: 18 >8056734 123 =816808908>8096730>380!())()&<1!!(B=23 5<670816>3655A37D?12355651<018==655680342<7D330 >2<;;30:37D39843123;3<403760:;3#A7:3 & 0 8 )(('()()& 123 43567301 89 123 4<=< <0>2<?<1 C28 C<5 3;3>137 C<5 5ADF3>137 18 < 43@A6561680D?123=3=D345891234<=<<0>2<1=8E60:
123 =81680 89 08 >8096730>3 D?
0816>3 18 123 55651<01 8==655680342355651<018==6556803480))(!)()& 2<7 655A37 0816>3 >80E3060: =33160: 89 123 =3=D345 89 4<=<<0>2<?<180!!())()&18>8056734123=8168089 08 >8096730>3 23 5<67 0816>3 C<5 ><;;37 60 @A351680 D39843123;3<403760:;3#A7:3 ' 23 >8==80 >8013016805 4<6537 60 D812 123 C461 B31616805C3433553016<;;?12<160134=58912396451B48E658 18 3>1680 +! 89 123 >1 123 43@A6561680 5AD=61137 D? 123 =3=D345 =A51 D3 C612 >;3<4 !( 7<?5 0816>3 <07 123 5<=3>8A;70812<E3D3301<G30081389D?12355651<01 8==65568034B4684181233JB64?89!(7<?5>>84760:;? - 9 -
61 65 >80130737 12<1 123 55651<01 8==65568034 655A60:
0816>3 D39843 123 3JB64? 89 123 B34687 89 !( 7<?5 <5 >8013=B;<137 A0734 123 96451 B48E658 18 3>1680 +! 89 123 >1 C8A;7 430734 123 3016431? 89 123 B48>33760:5 51<4160:948=1230816>3D?12355651<018==6556803418 D37393>16E3 - 2353>807>8013016804<653760D812123=<11345 65 12<1 123 43@A6561680 12<1 65 =<73 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 A0734 3>1680 +! 89 123 >1 65 43@A6437 18 D3 <>>8=B<0637 D? < B48B8537 4358;A1680 89 08 >8096730>3 <07 12<1 65 123 984=<1 <5 65 43>8:06K37 A0734 123 >1 <07 123 <40<1<G< <0>2<?<1 <F 81680 89 8L 8096730>3<:<605172?<G52<<07B<72?<G52<894<=< <0>2<?<1 A;35!+98452841H123 A;35I <07A0;355 5A>2 B48B8537 4358;A1680 89 08 >8096730>3 <>>8=B<0635 123 0816>3
43@A6561680 :6E30 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 123 55651<01 8==65568034 2<5 08 FA46576>1680 18 655A3 0816>3 >80E3060: 123 =33160: 18 >8056734 123 =81680 89 08 >8096730>3 23 >8013016805
- 10 -
C343>805673437D?123;3<403760:;3#A7:36012384734 B<553743F3>160: 8)((&*)()& * 23 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 2<5 >805673437 123 >8013016805 43;<160: 18 123 !( 7<?5 0816>3 <5 30E65<:37 A0734 123 96451 B48E658 18 3>1680 +! 89 123 >1 <07 C26;3 43934460: 18 123 >801301680 2<5 ;<67 78C0 12<1 !( 7<?5 0816>3 :6E30 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 65 18 30<D;326=1873>673C61260!(7<?5<51828C<07C230 123=33160:C<518D323;7C26;3>;<469?60:12<1123436508 7A1? 80 123 55651<01 8==65568034 18 >8==30>3 123 B48>3556==376<13;? 23 43<58060: 89 123 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 98A07 <1<4<:4<B28-89123847347<137('())()&B<5537 60 8)((&*)()&43<75<52343A0734
! - 11 -
! ! "# $
%$ %
$ &
' $
%$( $
$
$! )*% + )&,' + !-../0 !( 0589<4<5 8)(('()()&673016><;;3:<; >80130168052<E3D3304<6537<07<7743553760<0673016><; =<0034<560 8)((&*)()&<0712343<58060:<1 <4<:4<B28-65<598;;8C5
- 12 -
! ! ! "# $
%$ %
$ &
' $
%$( $
$
$! )*% + )&,' + !-../0 !!
812123538473452<E3D330>2<;;30:3760123 B435301 <BB3<;5 <07 >8==80 >8013016805 <5 2<E3 D330 4<653760123C461B316168052<E3D330436134<137 !) 46 8A4652 2<52<=BA4 ;3<4037 >8A053;
<BB3<460: 984 123 B316168034 60 D812 123 C461 B31616805 5AD=615 12<1 123 51<1A184? 43@A643=301 A0734 123 96451
- 13 -
B48E658183>1680+! 89123>165>;3<4<0712343>8A;7 D3 08 :31160: 8E34 89 123 43@A643=301 89 :6E60: < 43@A6561680 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 <5 30E65<:37 A07343>1680+! 56:037D?803L2<;989123=3=D34518 D3 B43530137 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 D? ) 89 123 =3=D345 C28 2<E3 56:037 <07 5A>2 43@A6561680 65 18 D3 <>>8=B<0637 D? < >8B? 89 123 B48B8537 4358;A1680 89 08 >8096730>31655AD=6113712<1D?E641A3891234393430>3 <05C3437D?123<4:3430>260123><5389
765B8537 899 80
! 61 65 >;3<4 12<11230816>389!(7<?565=<07<184?<07<>>84760:;?61 655AD=6113712<16912<1C34318D358C26>2C8A;7D360 >80580<0>3C612123B;<60C84760:5A073412396451B48E658 183>1680+! 89123>112355651<018==65568034I5 0816>3C61260!(7<?58912343@A65616806518D323;718D3 D<760;<C165 5AD=6113712<1123;3<403760:;3#A7:3 2<5 081 <BB43>6<137 123 765>A55680 <07 123 >80>;A5680 <446E37 <1 D? 123 "A;; 30>2 60 123 ><53 89
"#
- 14 -
! 23>801301680589123=3=D345<5C3;;<5123 8E340=301 <43 60 1<073= <07 18 123 3993>1 12<1 ;3:<; @A35168012<16558A:2118D3><0E<55372<5<;43<7?D330 >8E3437D?1234393430>318123<4:3430>260123><53 89 $%&" $ '%
<5C3;; <5 4393430>3 60 123 ><53 89 "# 1 65 5AD=6113712<11234393430>360123"A;;30>260123><53 89 $%&" &*+,-.' AB23;7 123 FA7:=301 89 123 6E65680 30>2 60 123 ><53 89 ( "&)
*+,,-,
<07 439A537 18 43>8056734 123 B8561680 60 123 ><53 89 ( "&) $"# 1 65 5AD=61137 12<1 123
6E65680 30>2 60 123 ><53 89 (
"&)$"# <9134<731<6;37>8056734<16802<7 436134<137123;<C;<6778C060123><5389$ ! './ +<0723;712<10878AD11234365<43@A643=301984123 =3=D345C28=8E312343@A656168018:6E3<1;3<51!(7<?5 0816>3 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 DA1 28C3E34 !(
- 15 -
7<?5 0816>3 C8A;7 081 >8=3 60 123 C<? 89 123 55651<01 8==6556803418><;;<=33160:18>8056734123=8168089 08>8096730>3D398431233JB64?89!(7<?5>>84760:;?61 65 5AD=61137 12<1 08 9A41234 @A351680 43=<605 18 D3 <7FA76><137 <07 123 <4:34 30>2 4393430>3 43934437 18 <D8E3 >;<469635 12<1 08 78AD1 61 65 =<07<184? 984 123 =3=D345 :6E60: 43@A6561680 18 :6E3 !( 7<?5 0816>3 28C3E3412355651<018==65568034><0<>13E30C61260 123 5<67 !( 7<?5 >>84760:;? 61 65 5AD=61137 12<1 123 ;3<403760:;3#A7:32<5>8=318<>8443>1>80>;A5680<07 60 9<>1 43934437 18 123 4393430>3 60 123 ><53 89 $%&" "# <07 12343 65 08 ><53 =<73 8A1 9846013493430>3 !+ 3<47 46 8A4652 2<52<=BA4 ;3<4037 >8A053; 984 B316168034 60 D812 123 ><535.
46 4331<= 3A;:<80G<4 ;3<4037 >8A053; 984 435B8073015 ' 18 !+ 60
8)((()')()&.46<01852;3<4037>8A053;984 435B8073018*60 8)((())()&.464AB<5<:<4 <16; ;3<4037 >8A053; 984 435B8073015 + <07 & <07 46
- 16 -
<;;6G<4FA0 <5<4377? ;3<4037 8E340=301 7E8><13 <BB3<460:984435B807301%1<1360D812123><535 !& 3>1680+! 89123>143<75<598;;8C5 0* (
-11 & 2%
3#2%
4 12 1 2 3$ 4
%$ $ 5
4 $
$ $ $
$
6
1
6
%$
3$ ! - 17 -
%$
3$ 4
$
3$
!!% 4 0 !' A;3) 89123 A;3543<75<52343A0734 + (-1161 &,'
4 $$
1 &-'
7
((
! 5
5
- 18 -
! ! 5 0 !- 23 96451 >801301680 4<6537 D? 123 ;3<4037 >8A053;984B3161680346512<1A07343>1680+89123>1 123=3=D345C28:6E312343@A6561680<4343@A643718:6E3 <1;3<51!(7<?50816>38960130168018=8E31234358;A1680 23 B8601 12<1 65 ><0E<5537 65 12<1 60 ;6:21 89 123 43@A643=30189!(7<?50816>318D3:6E301812355651<01 8==65568034 <07 <5 123 "A;; 30>2 60 123 ><53 89
"# 2<7 >;3<4;? 8D534E37 12<1 !( 7<?5 0816>3 C<5 =<07<184? <>1680 89 123 55651<01 8==65568034 60 655A60: 0816>3 >80E3060: 123 =33160: 6==376<13;?<913412343@A656168063C61260123B3468789 !( 7<?5 C6128A1 C<6160: 984 123 !( 7<?5 B34687 18 ;<B53 ><008151<07;3:<;5>4A160?1=A51D3533012<1123E34? @A351680 12<1 65 4<6537 2<7 D330 123 5ADF3>1 =<1134 89 4393430>360123><5389$%&""# C26>265 123 96451 84734 89 4393430>3 23 @A351680 89 4393430>3 4<653760$%&""# 65<598;;8C5
- 19 -
$!$ $
%$ 1 3$
("&) 1 (!+
$
7# 8
0 !* 23 >80>;A5680 D? 123 "A;; 30>2 65 <1 <4<:4<B28!C26>243<75<598;;8C5
! 9 ("&)! $! 0 ! 1 =A51 D3 0816>37 12<1 C2<1 C<5 78AD137 ;3<760: 18 123 4393430>3 C<5 123 4<168 ;<67 78C0 60 123 ><53 89 (
"&)
"# 23 43;3E<01
- 20 -
8D534E<16805 =<73 948= <4<:4<B2 85 !& 18 !- <43 <5 98;;8C5 -:
1 ! ! 15
$
7
9 ;<4%1 ( 1 ! $ $
=
< 19! ! ! ! $
$ ! $
0
( ! ! 1( $$ ! - 21 -
(
%! $ <
/. -..)
$ $
$
%$
0$$ < 1 &,'+ )+ -../ $ 1( $ $ 1 &,' + ) + -../ ! ! $
$ + )&,'+ -../
->7! =
%$ $
? @0
! - 22 -
!$
!
$
A(( % -:
7
)*
1( <
$ ! <
$ <
/. ! %$ <
$
)* ! + )&,' + -../ $
$
! $
)*(
$$
$ !$
)*! ! - 23 -
( ! $<
/. -..)! %$
%
- ($
1( *-*B,*,, ! 0
! 1(( -,*B,*,,
,*B,*,,! ,B*B,*,,! )* 1( 5
-,*B,*,, ! $$ (
1((! $ 1 &,'+
)+ -../! ! 1(
- 24 -
4
7
%
! $ ( ! %$ 7 ! ! $ 1(( % ! %$ ( ! $ <
/. $
0
)( 16512A5>;3<412<1601234393430>31238A41 2<5 AB23;7 12<1 123 0816>3 08 78AD1 <5 =<07<184? 28C3E34 12<1 C8A;7 081 28;7 123 2<075 89 123 55651<01 8==65568034C28>8A;7<>13E30C61260123B3468789!( 7<?5 <07 12343 C<5 08 >8=BA;5680 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 18 C<61 984 123 3JB64? 89 !( 7<?5 1 65 03>355<4?180816>312343<58060:<1<4<:4<B28!&<5 3J14<>137 <D8E3 <07 61 65 8D534E37 <07 B860137 8A1 12<1 1230816>3B3468789!(7<?518D3:6E301812355651<01 8==65568034 E6KL<LE6K =3=D345 :6E60: 43@A6561680 1 65
- 25 -
8D534E37 12<1 123 =3=D345 <9134 :6E60: 123 43@A6561680 =A51C<61984123B3468789!(7<?5<0769<9134123;<B53 89!(7<?508<>1680651<G30123?=<?D360<B856168018 >2<;;30:312360<>16808912355651<018==65568034<07 ><00811<G3<>1680B4684181233JB64?89!(7<?5<E60:
5<675861C<59A41234 >;<46963712<1123C<6160:B3468789 !(7<?5E6KL<LE6K=3=D34589123:4<=<B<0>2<?<1C8A;7 28C3E34><51088D;6:<16808012355651<018==65568034 18 C<61 984 123 3JB64? 89 123 B34687 89 !( 7<?5 <07 123 55651<018==6556803473B30760:AB80265<7=606514<16E3 >80E30630>3>8A;7<>13E30C61260!(7<?5 )! 23 )07 84734 89 4393430>3 C<5 60 123 ><53 89
"# 23 @A351680 89 4393430>3 65 <1 <:3!!<0761653J14<>137D3;8C M 231234123!(7<?50816>3B435>46D3760123 ;<1134B<418996451B48E658185ADL53>1680! 89 3>1680+6518D3:6E301812372?<G52<89 123 4<= <0>2<?<1 84 123 55651<01 8==65568034
C231234 5A>2 0816>3 65 =<07<184?847643>184?NO
- 26 -
)) 23 1C8 @A3516805 12<1 C343 4<6537 C26;3 94<=60:123@A351680894393430>3<436 <518C231234!( 7<?50816>3B435>46D3760123;<1134B<418912396451B48E658 183>1680+! 6518D3:6E30181237?<G52<894<=< <0>2<?<1 84 55651<01 8==65568034. 66 C231234 5A>2 0816>365=<07<184?847643>184? ) 0589<4 <5 123 96451 @A351680 65 >80>34037 123
"A;;30>22<523;712<11230816>365>8013=B;<13718D3 :6E30 80;? 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 <07 081 18 123 72?<G52< 23 43;3E<01 8D534E<16805 <5 43:<475 5A>2 <5B3>1 65 <1 <4<:4<B2 8 !- C26>2 43<75 65 3J14<>137 D3;8C - ( $ C
! $ $
!$
$
<
-/* -.$
$
- 27 -
C
$ $
$
3$ C
! 5
! 5 !
5 $
$
7
$ $$ 4 $ $ $
3$ ! $
7
0 $ <
/. !-..)
4
0 )+ 0589<4 <5 123 )07 B8601 65 >80>34037 <5 18 C231234 123 55651<01 8==65568034 2<5 18 C<61 984 123 3JB64?89!(7<?54393430>365<05C3437D?43;?60:80123
- 28 -
4393430>3 60 123 ><53 89 $%&" &*+,-.' 23 >80>;A5680<1<4<:4<B28!*43<75<598;;8C5 -B %
%$
! < <
D
E
=@,***BF,*,,
9 ; & $'! 0 )& 23 <05C34 18 123 4393430>3 65 98A07 <1 <4<:4<B28!C26>243<75<598;;8C5 (
0 $ <
/. ! ! - 29 -
! < & $'! 1($ + )+
! ! ! 0 )' 23 <05C34 18 123 4393430>3 =A51 D3 43<7 60 >80FA0>1680 C612 123 8D534E<16805 =<73 <1 <4<:4<B2 8!*912<1C34318D3581234393430>360123><5389
"# 2<5 436134<137 123 <05C34 18 123 @A351680 89 !( 7<?5 0816>3 D360: =<07<184? 84 7643>184? D?43;?60:801234393430>360123><5389$%&" &*+,-.'09<>16165>;3<412<112373>6568060123><5389 ( "&) $"# C<5 23;7 18 D3 >8443>1 <07 43@A64350843>8056734<1680238D534E<16805=<73D?123 6E6568030>260123><5389("&)$"# <1 <4<:4<B28*43<75<598;;8C5 B $ <
/. $! &-'
- 30 -
-F) !&'
-*
+ ) &-' $
1
$<
/. @- -F)
$ $$
4 $$
)* 1 &-'
-:
@ (( $ <
/. +
$ 1
-*
(
1
%$ -*
-*
- 31 -
7%$-*
$$
<
8
<G ! 7 -..B &-' DH8 ).. < 8
$
6 I
$<
/. ! $ ! %$-* !(
$I
=
0 )- 0589<4<512381234>8013016804<653743:<4760:
123 B48B8537 =81680 89 08 >8096730>3 <>>8=B<0?60: 123
- 32 -
43@A6561680 5AD=61137 18 123 55651<01 8==65568034 123 6E65680 30>2 60 123 ><53 89 .5 $ '% -
+ 67 ' 7 88 6.7
'7 ! 2<5 8D534E37 12<1 123 M 1
$$
$5
O 23 5<=3 B8561680 2<5 D33098;;8C37D?123
6E6568030>26012384734B<553760
8)(((!!)()& <07
8)(((!))()& >>84760:;?123>80130168089123B3161680346543F3>137 >>84760:;? C3 9607 08 43<580 18 601349343 C612 123 84734589123;3<403760:;3#A7:3 )* 23 5<=3 65 >;3<4 <07 436134<135 123 ;<C ;<67 78C0 D? 123 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 60 123 ><53 89 $
"# 23439843 C3 9607 12<1 123 84734 89 123 ;3<4037 60:;3 #A7:3 65 60 >80580<0>3 C612 123 4393430>3 D?
123
"A;; 30>2 60 123 ><535 89 $%&"&*+,-.'<07"# ) >>84760:;?123<BB3<;5<4391
- 33 -
<G60:081389123B48E65818 A;3) 89123 A;35 C26>2 >8013=B;<135 < 561A<1680 C2343 12343 65 51<? 89 B48>355D?12384734891238A41<07123>8053@A30>389 ;69160:8951<?12355651<018==6556803465181<G3513B5 60 <>>847<0>3 C612 123 B48E658 18 A;3 ) 89 123 A;35 <07B48>3379A4123418>80E303<94352=33160:
/(
& %' $
/(
&$ ' $