KRS seeks impeachment of Karnataka HC Judge over allegedly protecting Dharmasthala Chief
Bengaluru: In a strong move, the Karnataka Rashtra Samithi (KRS), a registered political party in the state, has submitted an application to the Hon’ble President of India seeking the impeachment of Justice R. Devdas, a sitting judge of the Karnataka High Court. The KRS has accused the judge of “proved misbehaviour” and “deliberate abuse of judicial office” in connection with a case involving Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
The contents of the impeachment plea, as detailed in a press release issued by KRS on Monday, claim that Justice Devdas delivered a judgment that became a judicial tool to facilitate “an unprecedented suppression of free speech” aimed at silencing critics of Dr. Heggade, whose spiritual and social institutions command massive influence and resources.
The letter to the President was originally submitted on June 25, 2025, but details were made public only through the July 7 press note.
According to the KRS, the root of the alleged abuse lies in Justice Devdas’s order dated January 20, 2025, in Writ Petition No. 19382 of 2023. The judgment, the party alleges, unlawfully authorised the police to intervene in private defamation cases, a power that is otherwise limited under Indian law.
“This judgment was the necessary key that unlocked a floodgate of censorship aimed directly at criticisms against Dr. Veerendra Heggade and the administration of Dharmasthala, creating a crisis for free speech on a scale never before witnessed in India,” said Ravi Krishna Reddy, President of KRS, in the statement.
The application accuses Justice Devdas of not only empowering police to interfere in civil disputes but also of coercing a litigant to relinquish their right to free expression. The KRS argues that the judgment prioritized the dignity of an individual over constitutional guarantees of free speech, creating what it calls a “judicial weapon” specifically aimed at insulating Dr. Heggade from scrutiny.
The KRS said that Justice Devdas’s judgment directly led to an “unprecedented” and sweeping censorship campaign. The press release highlights a civil suit, O.S. No. 2145/2025, filed on March 21, 2025, in Bengaluru by individuals linked to Dr. Heggade’s organisation.
On March 22, just one day later, Judge S. Nataraj of the VI Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru passed an ex-parte mandatory injunction ordering the removal of:
1,588 YouTube videos,
645 Instagram videos and slides,
633 Facebook videos and slides,
Along with news articles and Reddit threads,
The party alleges that the content targeted for removal overwhelmingly included criticism of Dr. Heggade and his institutional operations.
“To grant an order for the removal of over 2,200 videos and content... within 24 hours of a suit being filed is a mathematical and logical impossibility for any judge genuinely applying judicial mind,” said Reddy. “This is an act of judicial corruption and a blatant dereliction of duty.”
The KRS further demanded that the Government of Karnataka establish a Commission of Enquiry to investigate judicial misconduct by Judge S. Nataraj and probe irregularities in the City Civil Court Registry.
The party raised suspicions of "forum shopping", alleging that several sensitive civil suits filed by proxies of Dr. Heggade were consistently assigned to the same judge. “This pattern raises serious doubts over case allocation procedures and potential manipulation,” the press note reads.
The KRS’s impeachment application also draws attention to what it calls “systemic failures” in judicial oversight. Citing flaws in the Collegium System, the party points to the lack of accountability mechanisms once judges are appointed, and a failure to monitor actions at the trial court level.
Calling it a matter that strikes at the heart of democratic values, the KRS urged the President of India, the Chief Justice of India, and parliamentary leaders to act on their application with urgency.
“The time has come for accountability,” said Reddy. “Protecting Dr. Veerendra Heggade from public critique through judicial manipulation is a perversion of justice that this nation cannot tolerate.”
The party reiterated that their request for impeachment was based entirely on their interpretation of legal misconduct outlined in the press statement and that their motive was to protect the constitutional right to free expression and restore faith in the judiciary.
This marks one of the rare occasions in recent years where a political party has sought impeachment of a High Court judge, citing actions that allegedly aided censorship and protected influential figures from public scrutiny.
Note: All information in this report is sourced from the official press release issued by the Karnataka Rashtra Samithi (KRS) on July 7, 2025, and pertains to the party's communication to the President of India dated June 25, 2025.
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Worker’s body reaches Ranchi from Saudi 4 months after death; family rejects over compensation
Ranchi (PTI): The body of a migrant worker from Jharkhand’s Giridih district killed in Saudi Arabia in October last year has arrived at Ranchi Airport, but his family refused to accept it over pending compensation, officials said.
Shikha Lakra, team leader of the state migrant control cell, told PTI that, before taking the body of Vijay Kumar Mahato, the family is demanding compensation from the private company where he used to work in the Arab country.
Mahato was killed in an alleged crossfire between the police and criminals.
“Since it was a bullet injury case, the matter is before a court in Jeddah. The final compensation may depend on the court’s decision,” Lakra said.
“The Indian Embassy informed us about the body’s arrival, and coordination was done with district authorities. Our role is limited to coordination in cases involving overseas employers and foreign jurisdiction,” she added.
Giridih Deputy Commissioner Ram Niwas Yadav said the authorities will try to convince the family to perform the last rites.
“We have already sanctioned Rs 5 lakh under the government scheme for migrant’s deaths abroad. The compensation payment might take some time,” he said.
The body is currently at the mortuary of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.
The Family members said they will only accept it if the company provides written assurance regarding compensation. “Without that assurance, we will not receive the body,” said Ram Prasad Mahato, the deceased’s brother-in-law.
Mahato, a native of Dudhpaniya village in Madh Gopali panchayat under Dumri block, was employed as a tower line fitter. His family said he was struck by a bullet during a gunfight between local police and an extortion gang and later succumbed to his injuries.
Social activist Sikander Ali said Mahato is survived by his wife, two young sons aged five and three, and elderly parents.
