In a significant development, the Supreme Court intervened to halt criminal proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and 35 others for their involvement in a protest march held in 2022. The CM argued that peaceful political protests against the ruling dispensation are fundamental rights enshrined in a democratic society. Asserting the importance of freedom of speech and expression, the court underscored that peaceful assembly and protest cannot be stifled through penal provisions.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and A.M. Singhvi, representing Siddaramaiah, emphasized that criminalizing protests solely based on allegations of disrupting traffic sets a dangerous precedent. They argued that restrictions on fundamental rights can only be justified if they pose a risk to public order, urging the court to discern between peaceful political demonstrations and acts of violence. Notably, the court also stayed proceedings against other prominent leaders, including State Ministers Ramalinga Reddy and M.B. Patil, signaling a crucial legal victory for the right to peaceful protest in India.