Keeping Pace with Legal Change
The Supreme Court of India has intervened to stay a controversial order by the Karnataka High Court, which had put forward a record-keeping burden on multiplexes (imposed as record demands) that was unworkable).
The elaborate social structure of India with its centuries of practices of caste hierarchies governed by traditions still struggles against…
The Karnataka Taxi Welfare Association has taken serious legal objections toward the ban of bike taxis by the state government. Citing these services as a life necessity due to the cheap and effective last-mile connection, especially to daily commuters, the association holds that the ban is unjust to our lives and access to a vital mode of transport. This paper examines the different aspects of this currently raging courtroom battle and brings out the arguments that have been put forth by both parties and the possibilities of what this may portend as far as the future of urban mobility is concerned in Karnataka.
The government of Karnataka wants to come out with a strict new section to deal with fake news and misinformation with punishment going up to a maximum of 7 years in prison and a 10 lakh- rupee fine. The draft bill also seeks to create a regulatory office and special courts to check the accuracy of content in social media and the accountability that provokes the question of freedom of speech.
The proposed Karnataka Crowd Control Bill, 2025 would give district magistrates broad discretion to control or dissolve gatherings of more than 500 people, impose up to three years’ imprisonment and large fines on gathering organisers, require payment for deaths caused by a stampede, and call for official training and public education.
On May 9, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that police cannot conduct narco-analysis without the accused’s consent, emphasizing that such tests violate Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution. The Court also declared the Rajasthan High Court’s precedent in Sunil Bhatt v. State unsustainable, affirming that narco-test results alone are not admissible evidence and cannot justify conviction.
This report examines the FIR filed against Virat Kohli following the Bengaluru stampede, exploring legal grounds under Sections 304A and 336–338 IPC, investigative procedures, challenges in attributing negligence to a sports figure, and the broader procedural ramifications and implications.
Karnataka’s proposed ban on the film “Thug Life” challenges India’s commitment to free expression. By invoking Sections 196 and 300 of the BNS, the state risks overstepping constitutional limits, prompting courts to scrutinize proof of imminent public disorder.
The problem of Muslim reservation in Karnataka continues to be a complicated and nuanced issue. While the reservation policy is justified as a need to empower an historically disadvantaged group still suffering socio-economic disadvantages, critics point out that reserving positions on a purely religious basis goes against the constitutional principle of equality and will splinter society on communal lines.
