Karnataka High Court Drops FIR Against 13 Over Dissent Posters

Karnataka High Court quashed a criminal case against 13 people for putting up posters in Mangaluru that called a Supreme Court judgment a “denial of justice” and urged the public to raise their voices. The court, in a ruling on October 15, said the slogans were an expression of dissent and fell within the freedom of speech guaranteed by Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. It found that the posters did not meet the legal ingredients of offences under Sections 153A (promoting enmity) and 295A (outrage of religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code, nor the conspiracy charge under Section 120B. The original FIR, filed after a 2019 complaint that named the Popular Front of India as the poster maker, had charged the 13 persons under Sections 153A, 295A, 120B and the Karnataka Open Place Disfigurement Act. The accused argued that the complaint did not disclose essential elements of the alleged crimes and that expressing disagreement with a court verdict is protected speech. The State argued the posters could create disharmony, but the judges noted that only a few individuals feeling ill‑will is insufficient to trigger Section 153A. Advocate Ismail Muneeb Musba represented the petitioners, while Government Pleader Suhas Gowda M spoke for the State. The decision clears the accused of all charges and underscores the court’s view that dissent about a judicial decision is not a criminal act.## Context The ruling reinforces that criticism of court judgments, when not inciting violence, is protected speech in India. It also signals that future prosecutions under hate‑speech laws must show a clear threat to public order, not merely unpopular opinions.