Karnataka High Court Stays Criminal Proceedings Against Man Booked For Printing 'Vote For Narendra Modi' Message On His Wedding Invite

A single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by one Shivaprasad.

Issuing notice to the respondents the high court said, “There shall be an interim order of stay of all further proceedings in C.C.No.238/2024, qua the petitioners, till the next date of hearing”

The petitioners had approached the court seeking to quash the FIR registered against them under Section 127A (Restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters, etc.) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Advocate Vinod Kumar M appearing for the petitioners argued that printing of the invitation was done on March 1 long before the declaration of elections. The election press note bringing in the model code of conduct was released on March 16 and therefore, it would not make an offence under Section 127A of the Act, he said. 

He further argued, “Acts were required to be done only during the election and not prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to attract the offence”.

After hearing the parties the high court passed the interim order and directed the respondents to file their objections if any by the next date of hearing.

Case Title: SHIVAPRASAD AND State of Karnataka & ANR

Case No: WP 19700/2024