The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a complaint under the SC/ST Act against Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and IISc Director Govindan Rangarajan. Learn more about the court’s ruling and its implications.

Court Dismisses SC/ST Act Complaint Against Kris Gopalakrishnan and IISc Director

In a recent ruling, the Karnataka High Court dismissed a complaint filed under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against prominent individuals, including Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The complaint was lodged by Dr. D Sanna Durgappa, a former professor at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies.

Court’s Ruling: Vexatious Legal Action

The court’s decision was based on the claim that the complaint filed by Durgappa was an abuse of the legal process. Justice Hemant Chandangoudar ruled that the third complaint filed by Durgappa was a vexatious attempt to harass the petitioners. The court highlighted that the allegations in the complaint did not constitute offenses under the SC/ST Act.

Moreover, the petitioners, including Gopalakrishnan and Rangarajan, were granted permission by the court to submit a petition to the Advocate General requesting authorization to begin criminal contempt charges against Durgappa for filing the baseless complaints.

The Background: Durgappa’s Dismissal and Legal Challenges

Dr. Durgappa had been dismissed from his position after a departmental investigation into sexual harassment allegations. However, he contested his dismissal in court. The termination was eventually changed to resignation, in line with a settlement between the parties. Durgappa was entitled to all the benefits associated with his resignation.

Despite agreeing to drop all complaints filed with various agencies, including the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Durgappa continued submitting complaints under Section 200 of the CrPC. This led to the current legal battle, which has now been dismissed by the court.

Implications of the Court’s Decision

The Karnataka High Court‘s ruling underscores the importance of ensuring that legal processes are not abused for personal grievances. The court’s decision has significant implications for legal harassment cases and highlights the need for genuine claims to be pursued through proper channels.