Karnataka records 126 new COVID-19 cases, zero fatalities
Bengaluru, May 15: Karnataka on Sunday reported 126 fresh COVID-19 cases, taking the total infections to 39,49,675 so far, while there were zero fatalities, the Health Department said.
In its bulletin, the department said there were 1,891 active cases while 103 people were discharged.
The State today conducted 18,566 tests including 14,409 RT-PCR tests.
The majority of cases came from Bengaluru urban district which reported 118 infections today. The city had 1,810 active cases. There were infections in six other districts, including two each in Hassan and Ballari.
The department said 24 districts reported zero infections and nil fatalities. The positivity rate for the day was 0.67 per cent.
As many as 6,604 inoculations were done in the State, taking the total vaccinated to 10.72 crore till date.
To view today's health bulletin: CLICK HERE
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Karnataka HC quashes FIR against three men accused of 'preaching Islam' near temple premises
Bengaluru, Jul 25 (PTI): The Karnataka High Court has quashed a First Information Report (FIR) filed against three Muslim men who were accused of "preaching Islam" and distributing religious pamphlets near a Hindu temple in Jamkhandi, Bagalkot district.
The complaint had alleged that the men attempted religious conversion by making promises of employment and passed derogatory remarks about Hinduism.
However, the High Court held that there was no substantial evidence of coercion, fraud, or inducement--criteria necessary for prosecution under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022.
The court made it clear that mere expression or distribution of religious literature does not amount to an offence unless accompanied by forceful or deceitful attempts to convert.
"The essence of a free society lies in the freedom to express, discuss, and propagate beliefs," the bench observed.
It further stated that peaceful preaching, in the absence of coercion or allurement, is protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to freely profess and propagate one's religion.
Additionally, the bench noted that the complainant in the case was neither the alleged victim nor a relative of one. As per Section 4 of the 2022 Act, only an aggrieved individual or their close relatives are permitted to lodge such complaints--making the FIR procedurally invalid.
