Suresh Gowda v. the State of Karnataka
Case brief
What is this about?
The Karnataka High Court examined constitutional challenges to the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 (KLGP Act). While declaring the Act valid and constitutional, the Court struck down the mandatory summary trial provision to read it as a warrant trial procedure with exceptions. It also read down a restriction on using civil evidence for criminal liability. The Court quashed pending proceedings in some writ petitions, dismissed others, and issued a mandamus to the State to constitute additional benches of Special Courts in all districts.
What did the court decide?
Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 declared constitutional; proviso to Section 9(5)(b) struck down and read down to mandate warrant trials; Section 9(4) read down to admit civil evidence for criminal liability; mandamus issued to constitute additional special court benches; several writ petitions allowed, dismissed, or disposed of.