Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: Karnataka High Court made important order

Dharmasthala Mass Burial Case: In a significant update, the Karnataka High Court on August 1, 2025, lifted a “sweeping gag order” that a lower court had imposed on media reporting in the ongoing Dharmasthala mass burial case.

Order Quashed: Justice M. Nagaprasanna of the Karnataka High Court set aside the ex-parte injunction issued by a Bengaluru civil court on July 18, 2025. This injunction had barred over 300 media outlets and social media platforms from publishing any content related to the allegations.

The High Court declared that the gag order was an unconstitutional “prior restraint” on free speech and had a “chilling effect” on journalism. The court emphasized the public’s right to know, especially in a matter involving allegations of criminal wrongdoing and institutional failure.

The matter has been sent back to the trial court for fresh consideration. The High Court has instructed the lower court to reconsider the case while upholding the principles of natural justice and freedom of expression.

Background of the Case:

The case began when a former sanitation worker claimed to have been involved in the mass burial of over a hundred bodies, many of women and minors, on the Dharmasthala temple premises between 1995 and 2014.

The Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. The SIT has since been conducting exhumations at several sites identified by the whistleblower. On July 31, 2025, the SIT recovered partial skeletal remains at one of the sites.

The brother of the Dharmadhikari (hereditary trustee) of the temple filed a civil suit seeking to block media coverage, claiming it was defamatory. The lower court’s ex-parte injunction, which was issued without hearing all parties, was widely criticized for its broad nature.

This landmark verdict is seen as a major victory for the media, ensuring that the press can continue to report on the SIT’s investigation and other matters of public interest without fear of being silenced by such injunctions.

Also Read: School Holidays: More than 10 days school will closed in August 2025