Disposed¶42

Smt Thanuja v. the Govt of Karnataka

Karnataka HC2 Mar 2026WPHC/14/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: habeas corpus; writ petition (HC); illegal detention; adult/major detenue; voluntary marriage; consent of a major; detenue not produced; petition closed; Articles 226 and 227 Constitution of India; High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru; WPHC No. 14 of 2026; NC: 2026:KHC:12602-DB; decided 02-03-2026; petitioner Smt. Thanuja W/o Ravikumar K.; alleged detenue Kum. Harshitha R. D/o Ravikumar K.; respondent No. 4 Sri. Dinesh; counsel Sri. Rajashekhara Seeri for petitioner; Sri. Thejesh P., HCGP for R1-R3.

What did the court decide?

No substantive relief; writ petition closed recording that the alleged detenue is not under any illegal detention; no direction issued to hand over the detenue to the petitioner. ¶42

Smt Thanuja Vs the Govt of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No substantive relief; writ petition closed recording that the alleged detenue is not under any illegal detention; no direction issued to hand over the detenue to the petitioner.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the alleged detenue, Kum. Harshitha R., is under illegal detention and whether a writ of habeas corpus should issue directing her production before the Court and handover to the petitioner.

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Court's answer

The alleged detenue has attained the age of 18 years and is an adult; she states she has married one Mr. Dinesh and wishes to go back with him.

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Ratio / Principle

The alleged detenue states that she is not under any illegal detention and that she is with Mr. Dinesh on her own volition.

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Key takeaways

Having interacted with the alleged detenue, and in view of the admitted fact that she is an adult who states she is not under any illegal detention, the Court cannot direct her to reside with her parents without her consent.ratio¶41
The writ petition is closed recording that the alleged detenue is not under any illegal detention.ratio¶42
The alleged detenue's submission that the marriage conducted yesterday will be duly registered in accordance with law and that she will take steps to complete her education is recorded by the Court.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Habeas Corpus (Articles 226 and 227, Constitution of India) filed by mother seeking production and custody of her daughter, alleged detenue Kum. Harshitha R. On interaction in Court, the alleged detenue stated that she had attained the age of 18 and is an adult, that she had married respondent No. 4 Sri. Dinesh, that she was with him on her own volition and was not under any illegal detention. Held: in view of the admitted fact that the alleged detenue is an adult and states she is not under any illegal detention, the Court cannot direct her to reside with her parents without her consent. Writ petition closed recording that the alleged detenue is not under any illegal detention; her submissions that the marriage conducted yesterday would be registered in accordance with law and that she would complete her education were recorded. Judgment delivered per Anu Sivaraman, J., signed also by Tara Vitasta Ganju, J.

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NC: 2026:KHC:12602-DB WPHC No. 14 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2^ND DAY OF MARCH, 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU WRIT PETITION (HABEAS CORPUS) NO. 14 OF 2026

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BETWEEN:

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SMT. THANUJA W/O RAVIKUMAR K. AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS RESIDING AT No.16, 11^TH CROSS MUNESHWARA LAYOUT DASANAPURA BANGALURU NORTH TALUK BENGALURU-562 162

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. RAJASHEKHARA SEERI, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka

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THE GOVT. OF KARNATAKA HOME DEPARTMENT REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001

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THE COMMISSIONER BENGALURU CITY POLICE INFANTRY ROAD BENGALURU-560 001

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THE POLICE INSPECTOR MADANAYAKANAHALLY PS BENGALURU NORTH TALUK

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NC: 2026:KHC:12602-DB WPHC No. 14 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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BENGALURU-562 162

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SRI. DINESH FATHER NAME NOT KNOWN AGED ABOUT NOT KNOWN RESIDING NEAR ARASHINAKUNTE VILLAGE NELAMANGALA TOWN BENGALURU-562 123 MOBILE: 9902770359

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. THEJESH P., HCGP FOR R1 TO R3)

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THIS WP(HC) IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, BY THE PETITIONER, WHEREIN PRAYS THAT THE HON'BLE COURT MAY BE PLEASED TO ISSUE A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO PRODUCE THE DETENUE, KUM. HARSHITHA R. D/O RAVIKUMAR K. BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT AND HAND OVER HER TO THE PETITIONER AND ETC.

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

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CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and

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HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU

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NC: 2026:KHC:12602-DB WPHC No. 14 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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(PER: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN)

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We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the

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writ petitioner as well as the learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the respondentsOfficials. We have also interacted with the alleged detenue as well as her parents, who are present before the Court today.

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The alleged detenue tells us that she has attained the age of 18 and is an adult. She further states that she has married one Mr. Dinesh and that she wishes to go back with him. She states that she is not under any illegal detention and that she is with Mr. Dinesh on her own volition.

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Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner states that the alleged detenue is an unstable person and that she cannot takes decision on her own. However, having interacted with the alleged detenue, we are of the opinion that in view of the admitted fact that she is an

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NC: 2026:KHC:12602-DB WPHC No. 14 of 2026

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HC-KAR

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adult and she states that she is not under any illegal detention, we cannot direct her to reside with her parents without her consent.

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In the above view of the matter, we close this writ petition recording that the alleged detenue is not under any illegal detention. The alleged detenue also informs us that the marriage conducted yesterday will be

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duly registered in accordance with law and that she will take steps to complete her education.

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Said submission is recorded.

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Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

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Sd/(TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE

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List No.: 16 Sl No.: 1

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Smt Thanuja v. the Govt of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Smt Thanuja v. the Govt of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

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