Police Empowered to Register Suo Motu Cases
‘Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Rehabilitation) Bill–2025’ Passed Unanimously in the Assembly

Belagavi, December 18 :
The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Rehabilitation) Bill–2025 during the ongoing winter session. The legislation aims to completely eliminate unconstitutional and oppressive practices of social boycott prevalent in society.

Presenting the Bill for the House’s approval, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa said that practices such as social boycott imposed through caste-based panchayats, along with mental and physical harassment and other inhuman punishments, are unconstitutional. He said the government is enacting this law to curb such illegal practices and to provide legal protection and compensation to victims.

Members from both the ruling party and the opposition expressed unanimous support for the Bill. During the discussion, MLA T.B. J. Chandra drew attention to Clause 12 of the Bill, which allows the affected person or their family members to lodge a complaint with the police or directly before a First Class Judicial Magistrate. However, he stressed that for effective implementation of the law, the police should also be empowered to register cases on their own.

Accepting the suggestion, Minister H.C. Mahadevappa introduced a significant amendment to the Bill, enabling the police to take suo motu action in cases of social boycott when such incidents come to light.

With this amendment, the Social Boycott Bill–2025 was unanimously passed by the Assembly. The government said the law would be an important step towards strengthening social justice and ensuring protection for vulnerable sections of society.

Source: Haqeeqat Time (Translate in english)