In a recent decision that has drawn attention to the boundaries of free speech and electoral regulation, the Karnataka High Court quashed an FIR filed against a man who had included a pro-Modi message on his wedding invitation cards. The court’s ruling brought clarity to what many viewed as a case of overreach by authorities.
Shivprasad, a resident of Dakshina Kannada, chose to make his wedding unique by including the line, "Voting for Modi is a wedding gift to me," on his invitations. These cards, printed on March 1, sparked controversy when a complaint was filed on April 19, nearly three weeks after the wedding. The police charged Shivprasad and the printer, A. Balakrishna, under laws meant to regulate electoral influence.
However, the timing of events was critical to the case. Justice M. Nagaprasanna highlighted that the cards were printed well before the Election Commission announced the election schedule on March 16. “It defies logic how a simple wedding invitation was misinterpreted as an electoral pamphlet,” the judge remarked, calling the entire episode “laughable at best.”
The ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of context and timing in legal matters. Justice Nagaprasanna stressed that election-specific regulations come into play only after the official notification of election dates. Actions taken before such announcements fall outside the purview of these rules.
This judgment not only brought relief to Shivprasad and Balakrishna but also set a precedent emphasizing the need for common sense in interpreting the law. For many, it was a win for individual expression and a call for authorities to exercise restraint in similar situations.
