A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind ruled the PIL as “misconceived” and a “waste of judicial time,” imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner, the All India Dalit Action Committee, Bengaluru.
Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made objectionable remarks during a public speech in the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind ruled the PIL as “misconceived” and a “waste of judicial time,” imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner, the All India Dalit Action Committee, Bengaluru.
The court, however, issued general advice to politicians, urging them to maintain decency, decorum, and responsible language in public speeches, noting that these virtues are increasingly rare in public life.
The bench declined to delve into the merits of Rahul Gandhi’s alleged remarks, emphasizing that assessing political speeches or public utterances is beyond the court’s scope under Article 226 of the Constitution. It noted that such matters require evidence and material review and advised the petitioner to explore other legal remedies if needed.
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The petition accused Rahul Gandhi of referring to former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna as a “rapist” during a speech in Shivamogga and sought actions, including an apology, a white paper, and intervention by authorities such as the National Commission for Women and Karnataka State Police.
The court concluded that the allegations were not suitable for adjudication under PIL jurisdiction and reaffirmed that judicial time must be preserved for genuine cases.
