Karnataka HC quashes FIR against man over 'Vote for Modi' wedding invite
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR and related criminal proceedings against Shivaprasad, a resident of Dakshina Kannada district, for including a message on his wedding invitation urging guests to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Justice M Nagaprasanna, delivering the order on Tuesday, also quashed proceedings against Balakrishna A, the owner of the printing agency that produced the invitations. A detailed judgment is awaited.
The FIR, filed under s. 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and s. 127A of the Representation of the People Act (RP Act), was based on a complaint by election officer Sandesh KN. The officer alleged that Shivaprasad’s invitation card, which read, "Voting for Modi is the gift for my wedding," violated the election code of conduct.
However, Shivaprasad, represented by advocate Vinod Kumar, argued that the invitations were printed on March 1, prior to the enforcement of the election code, which commenced on March 16 following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. The complaint, filed on April 19, was therefore claimed to be invalid.
Justice Nagaprasanna, during an earlier hearing on November 11, granted an interim stay on the FIR, noting that the alleged offence under the RP Act could not apply as the invitations were printed before the code of conduct took effect. The Court further observed procedural lapses in the Magistrate's handling of the case, deeming the FIR "bad in law."
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Punjab: Train services affected due to farmers' 'rail roko' protest
Chandigarh, Dec 18: Train services in Punjab were affected as farmers squatted on rail tracks on Wednesday as part of their three-hour 'Rail Roko' protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops.
The call for the 'rail roko' was given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers have been squatted on rail tracks at many places from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Protesting farmers blocked train routes at many places, including Moga, Faridkot, Kadian and Batala in Gurdaspur; Phillaur in Jalandhar; Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur; Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in Ferozepur; Sahnewal in Ludhiana; Shambhu in Patiala; Mohali; Sunam and Lehra in Sangrur, Rampura Phul in Bathinda and Devidaspura in Amritsar.
The Humsafar Express from Jammu to Sealdah, Dadar Express from Amritsar to Mumbai and Shan-e-Punjab Express from New Delhi to Amritsar were halted at different platforms of the Ludhiana railway station.
The Shatabdi Express coming from New Delhi for Amritsar was halted at Khanna railway station.
A protesting farmer said, "We are demanding a legal guarantee for MSP from the government."
Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
For the past three weeks, Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana to press the Centre to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops.
A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made three attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6, December 8 and again on December 14. Haryana security personnel did not allow them to proceed.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP for crops, the farmers are demanding a debt waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21 are also part of their demands.
