Mother of Sowjanya files PIL in K'taka HC seeking 74 separate FIRs in Dharmasthala deaths case
Bengaluru: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Karnataka High Court by Kusumavathi, mother of the late Sowjanya, seeking court directions to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to register 74 separate FIRs and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged unnatural deaths reported in Dharmasthala between 1990 and 2021.
The petition claims that the bodies of several unidentified persons were allegedly buried in the Dharmasthala region over a span of 31 years. Despite multiple appeals from families of victims, the SIT has allegedly failed to initiate individual cases or act on the detailed representations made earlier.
Details of the petition
According to the plea, the petitioner and other affected families had submitted a written request to the SIT on October 11, 2025, demanding separate FIRs for all 74 cases. The submission reportedly included detailed information such as dates, locations, UDR (Unnatural Death Report) numbers, and burial sites.
However, as no action was taken, the families have now approached the High Court. The PIL names the SIT as a respondent and seeks judicial oversight to ensure an impartial and effective investigation free from external influence.
Key prayers in the PIL
The petitioner has requested the court to:
Direct the SIT to register individual FIRs for all 74 alleged unnatural death cases and assign separate case numbers.
Appoint individual investigating officers for each case, ensuring personal accountability.
Use scientific tools such as ground-penetrating radar to locate burial sites, exhume remains for forensic examination, and conduct DNA and physical matching tests with missing person reports.
Identify victims through forensic pathology and record witness statements to trace possible perpetrators.
Publish public notices in at least three widely circulated newspapers (in Kannada and English) and on a government website with details such as the date, location, gender, and age of each case, enabling families of missing persons to contact the SIT.
Submit monthly progress reports on the investigation to the High Court.
Clarification by petitioner
The PIL emphasises that it does not seek to interfere with or criticize the functioning of the SIT. Instead, it calls for judicial supervision to ensure that the investigation proceeds “without political, social, or external pressures” and within the “framework of law and justice.”
The case is yet to be listed before a division bench of the Karnataka High Court for hearing.
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Health Department launches leprosy awareness campaign in Dakshina Kannada, district reports 47 cases
Mangaluru: The Health Department launched on Friday the Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign, to promote early detection and treatment to the disease and also to educate people in the district about leprosy.
The campaign, which is a nationwide initiative, will continue till February 13.
According to a report by Deccan Herald, District Health Officer Dr. HR Thimmaiah has said that 47 cases of leprosy were reported in Dakshina Kannada till December in 2025-26.
He has stressed on the need for early detection and treatment of the disease as it would prevent complications prior to detection. He also stressed on creating awareness, increasing community participation in cases of early detection. “People should not neglect white or brown patches without sensation on their skin,” the DHO advised.
Dr. Thimmaiah added that people diagnosed positive would be treated with free Leprosy Multidrug Therapy (MDT). “The government also provides Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR), splints, self-care kits, multicellular rubber footwear, and reconstructive surgery to patients. People can log on to sanjeevani.opd or esanjeevani.in for free teleconsultation if they come across any symptoms of the disease,” he added.
Referring to social stigma attached to leprosy, the DHO called it a challenge and said that the Department had planned awareness programmes in rural areas in collaboration with gram panchayats to ensure that there is no discrimination of patients. “ASHA workers and staff from other departments will be trained to create awareness among the people to overcome social stigma. A door-to-door campaign will be conducted. In addition, officials will visit educational institutions to create awareness among students,” he said.
Speaking about the leprosy cases in Dakshina Kannada, Dr. Thimmaiah said that the 47 cases were reported between April and December, with 42 being diagnosed as multibacillary (MB) leprosy and five as paucibacillary leprosy. One child too has been detected with leprosy during the year, he added.
He said that the district reported 29 cases in 2020-21, 39 in 2021-22, 75 in 2022-23, 62 in 2023-24, and 43 in 2024-25. The number of cases was higher in 2022-23 as patients were not able to visit hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic in the previous years, the DHO informed.
