Can you face criminal charges for criticising SC judgment? Karnataka high court answers
The Karnataka High Court quashed an FIR against 13 men who were accused of promoting enmity by putting up posters criticizing a Supreme Court judgment. The court ruled that expressing disagreement with judicial decisions is protected under freedom of speech.
Why it matters
The ruling reinforces the constitutional right to dissent and clarifies the legal boundaries between political criticism and criminal incitement.
NEW DELHI: Can people face criminal charges for putting up posters criticising a Supreme Court judgment and calling it a denial of justice? The Karnataka high court has held that slogans expressing disagreement with a court judgment do not amount to promoting enmity between groups or hurting religious feelings unless the necessary legal conditions are met. In an October 15, 2026, order, the court quashed an FIR against 13 men accused of putting up such posters in Mangaluru.Why did the men approach the high court?According to the court order, the case began after posters were found on walls beside a road in Mangaluru. The posters described a Supreme Court judgment as a denial of justice and called on people to raise their voice for justice.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in