Three years after the controversial Mekedatu padayatra, a significant number of criminal cases filed for alleged violations of Covid-19 protocols remain unresolved in Karnataka courts. The cases, which name top state leaders including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, continue to linger despite a cabinet decision last year to withdraw them.
Assembly Revelation Highlights Prolonged Legal Limbo
The issue came to the fore in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly when Congress MLA from Bagepalli, SN Subba Reddy, raised the matter. He urged the state government to expedite the withdrawal of these cases, aligning with a cabinet decision taken in August 2023. Reddy highlighted the prolonged legal suffering of around 30 individuals from his constituency alone, who are still attending court proceedings for what he termed non-serious offences committed in the public interest.
In a detailed written reply, State Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara provided a comprehensive breakdown. He stated that a total of 17 cases were registered in connection with the 2022 padayatra. These cases were filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020.
Disposal Status and Geographic Spread of Cases
Of the 17 registered cases, the courts have disposed of seven. Notably, three of these were quashed by the Karnataka High Court. This leaves 10 cases still pending disposal across various districts.
The district-wise distribution of the original cases is as follows:
- Mysuru: 7 cases registered
- Ramanagara: 6 cases registered
- Chamarajanagar: 2 cases registered
- Hassan: 1 case registered
- Chikkaballapur: 1 case registered
According to information from the home department, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was named as an accused in four cases registered in Ramanagara district. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was named in all six cases filed in Ramanagara. From these six, four have been disposed of, leaving two pending. In these two pending cases, Shivakumar is listed as accused number one, while Siddaramaiah is an accused in one of them.
Scrutiny and Legal Hurdles Delay Withdrawal
Home Minister Parameshwara clarified that the process of withdrawing the cases is not straightforward. He explained that requisitions and proposals for the withdrawal of these cases are currently under scrutiny by the relevant authorities.
A major legal complication arises because some of the accused are now elected representatives. Parameshwara emphasized that the withdrawal of cases registered against elected representatives must strictly comply with the orders and directions laid down by the Supreme Court of India. This requirement for rigorous verification is a key reason the proposals are still under examination, causing the delay.
The Mekedatu padayatra was organized by the Congress party in January 2022, when it was in the opposition. The march aimed to pressure the then BJP government to implement the Mekedatu project, which involves the construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river near Mekedatu. The event drew criticism for allegedly flouting Covid-19 safety norms that were in place at the time.
