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Karnataka High Court Dismisses Murali Krishna Brahmandam’s PIL with ₹1 Lakh Fine: What’s the Case About?

By Gireesh Vasishta
Karnataka High Court Dismisses Murali Krishna Brahmandam’s PIL with ₹1 Lakh Fine: What’s the Case About?

The court took strong exception to Brahmandam’s claim that the judiciary is part of the government, retorting, “The judiciary is not a part of the government. Read the Constitution first.” The bench dismissed the PIL, citing a lack of sufficient evidence or merit, and imposed a ₹1 lakh fine for the frivolous filing.

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bengaluru resident Murali Krishna Brahmandam’s , seeking a directive for the Karnataka government to implement the 2025 Reform Bill related to the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), imposing a fine of ₹1 lakh for misuse of the judicial process.


Details:

Murali Krishna Brahmandam’s filed a PIL urging the Karnataka High Court to direct the state government to implement the proposed Karnataka Government Reform Bill 2025, particularly focusing on reforms for the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST). The petitioner requested the court to instruct all 34 ministries and principal secretaries of 44 departments to discuss the bill, bring it to the attention of the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary, and direct the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president to urge party MLAs and MPs to push for its implementation. However, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Ramachandra Huddar, sharply criticized the petitioner for misusing the PIL platform, stating that such petitions waste the judiciary’s valuable time.BULLMER Trendy Clothing Set with Shirt & Pants Co-ords for Men


The court took strong exception to Brahmandam’s claim that the judiciary is part of the government, retorting, “The judiciary is not a part of the government. Read the Constitution first.” The bench dismissed the PIL, citing a lack of sufficient evidence or merit, and imposed a ₹1 lakh fine for the frivolous filing.

Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) Background:

Established in 2009, SAST operates as an autonomous body under Karnataka’s Department of Health and Family Welfare. It administers health insurance schemes like the Karnataka Arogya Sanjeevini Scheme, providing up to ₹5 lakh in cashless medical coverage annually for government employees, contractual/outsourced staff, and their dependents. In the 2025-26 budget, the scheme was extended to over 3 lakh contractual workers, with employees contributing an annual premium of ₹100, while the government covers the remaining costs. also read:Rupee Gains Slightly Against US Dollar Despite Weak Domestic Markets: 3 paise higher at ₹87.72

Court’s Ruling and Implications:

The dismissal of the PIL underscores the judiciary’s stance against frivolous petitions that lack substantial grounds, emphasizing the need for robust evidence in PILs. The ₹1 lakh fine serves as a warning against misuse of judicial time. While the ruling does not directly impact ongoing SAST schemes, it has sparked discussions about the state government’s approach to healthcare reforms.