Smt. Nethravathi R.V. Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Smt. Nethravathi R.V. Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Proceeding closed without further order: the detenue having been secured and produced, and having expressed willingness to join the petitioner-mother and the father, who undertook to provide her proper education and take her along with them; police proceedings expressly preserved and to be taken to their logical conclusion.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of habeas corpus should issue against the respondents to trace and produce the detenue — the petitioner's minor daughter Deeksha S. — before the Court and hand her over to the custody of the petitioner.

Court's answer

With the missing person produced before the Court and the petitioner's daughter expressing her willingness to join the petitioner-mother and the father, no further order is required to be passed; closure of the proceeding will not come in the way of any other proceedings initiated by the police, and such proceedings shall be taken to their logical conclusion.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Habeas corpus — WPHC No. 131 of 2025 (High Court of Karnataka, Division Bench: Anu Sivaraman and Vijaykumar A. Patil JJ.), decided 06.01.2026 under Articles 226 and 227: The petitioner-mother alleged that her minor daughter (detenue, aged about 16) was missing from 24.11.2025, on whose written complaint Bagalagunte police registered Crime No.467/2025. The detenue was traced, secured and produced before the Court; on interaction she stated she had stayed at Guwahati, State of Assam, from 24.11.2025 till police brought her, that she is a minor, and that she is willing to join the petitioner-mother and the father, who expressed they would provide proper education and take her along. The Bench observed that no further order was required, that closure of the proceeding would not come in the way of any other police proceedings (to be taken to their logical conclusion), and disposed of the writ petition.

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NC: 2026:KHC:370-DB WPHC No. 131 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL WRIT PETITION HABEAS CORPUS NO. 131 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

SMT. NETHRAVATHI R. V. WIFE OF SIDDARAJU. N. AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS R/AT NO 405,VINAYAKANAGARA (KAREKALLU) BAGALAGUNTE, NAGASANDRA POST, BENGALURU 560 073.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. LAKSHMISHAIAH S., ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by BANGALORE ANJANAPPA KRISHNA KUMAR Location: High Court of Karnataka

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

REP. BY THE SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA

BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE INFANTRY ROAD

BENGALURU- 560 001.

STATION HOUSE OFFICER

BAGALAGUNTE POLICE STATION

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NC: 2026:KHC:370-DB WPHC No. 131 of 2025

HC-KAR

BENGALURU- 560073.

…RESPONDENTS

DEEKSHA S. AGED ABOUT 16 YEARS, R/AT NO.405, VINAYAKANAGARA (KAREKALLU) BAGALAGUNTE, NAGASANDRA POST, BENGALURU - 560 073.

...DETENUE

(BY SRI. B.A.BELLIAPPA, SPP-I WITH SRI. THEJESH P., HCGP)

THIS WP(HC) IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AGAINST THE RESPONDENTS TO TRACE AND PRODUCE THE DETENUE (PETITIONER'S MINOR DAUGHTER DEEKSHA.S) BEFORE THIS COURT AND HANDOVER HER TO THE CUSTODY OF THE PETITIONER.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL

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NC: 2026:KHC:370-DB WPHC No. 131 of 2025

HC-KAR

ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL)

This petition is filed by the petitioner- mother alleging that her daughter is missing from 24.11.2025.

The records indicate that a written complaint was lodged with the jurisdictional police. Based on such complaint, the Bagalagunte police have registered a crime in Crime No.467/2025. This Court issued notice on the respondentState.

The learned State Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent-State submits that the missing person is found and has been secured and produced before the Court. We had interacted with the missing person, who is a minor. She states that she stayed at Guwahati, State of Assam, from 24.11.2025 till the police contacted her and brought her to the Court. She states that she is a minor and is willing to join the petitionermother and the father. Her statement is placed on record.

We also interacted with the mother and the father of the minor daughter, who are present before the Court today.

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NC: 2026:KHC:370-DB WPHC No. 131 of 2025

HC-KAR

They also express that they will provide proper education to her

and they would take the minor daughter along with them.

In view of production of the missing person and the

daughter of the petitioner expressing her willingness to join the petitioner- mother and the father, we are of the view that no further order is required to be passed. However, closure of this proceeding will not come in the way of any other proceedings initiated by the police. Same shall be taken to its logical conclusion.

In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed

of .

Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

Sd/(VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL) JUDGE

PN List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1