Supreme Court Grants Major Relief To Karnataka BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

The Supreme Court has granted substantial relief to the BJP Member of Parliament from Karnataka, Tejasvi Surya, by dismissing the Karnataka government’s petition against him.

The petition had challenged the Karnataka High Court’s earlier decision to quash a criminal case filed against Surya, which alleged that he spread false news concerning a farmer’s suicide.

The controversy stemmed from Surya’s social media claim on 7 November 2024, based on Kannada media reports, that Rudrappa Balikai, a farmer from Haveri district, had committed suicide following the illegal occupation of his land by the Wakf Board.

Surya further accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan of causing a destructive impact in the state.

However, police later clarified that the farmer’s suicide had taken place on 6 January 2022 and was unrelated to the Wakf Board.

The cause was reportedly crop failure and pressure from loan recovery agents.

Subsequently, the police registered a case against Surya under Section 353(2) of the Indian Penal Code for deliberately spreading false information with the intent to incite hatred.

High Court’s Judgement

The Karnataka High Court found that Surya had deleted the social media post and that there was no solid evidence proving any deliberate intent to incite hatred.

Accordingly, the High Court quashed the case against him.

Supreme Court’s Response

The Karnataka government approached the Supreme Court seeking to reinstate the criminal case, but the Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, expressed displeasure over the politicisation of judicial proceedings.

The bench admonished all parties, stating, “What is all this? Do not politicise matters in court. Fight your battles before the public.”

The court dismissed the petition but noted that it would consider imposing penalties if necessary, cautioning against the misuse of courts for political blame games.

The Supreme Court emphasised that the place of justice is above politics.

This ruling reinforces the principle that courts should not become arenas for political conflict and underscores the need for political matters to be debated in public forums rather than through litigation.

The case highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression and responsibility, especially when discussing sensitive issues like farmer suicides.

By rejecting the Karnataka government’s petition, the Supreme Court has upheld the Karnataka High Court’s decision, providing Tejasvi Surya significant relief in this politically charged case.

The judgment sends a strong message to avoid the misuse of judicial processes for political ends and upholds the judiciary’s independence from political influence.

This judgment not only brings closure to the legal proceedings against Tejasvi Surya but also reaffirms the judiciary’s role as an impartial arbiter above political disputes.

Also Read: Six New Judges Sworn In At Delhi High Court; Bench Strength Rises To 41