Free expression breathes easier in Karnataka today. New state guidelines, circulated by Police Chief M.A. Salim, clamp down on impulsive FIRs and arrests from social media posts. Targeting mechanical case-logging without Supreme Court-mandated prelims, they adopt Telangana High Court standards blessed by the top bench.
Core elements: Check filer’s locus standi, inquire before cognizable filings, demand superior proof in speech cases, defend political freedoms, deem defamation non-cognizable, stick to arrest rules, legally clear delicate probes, and reject motivated gripes.
For slurs or libel, confirm victim’s status first; bystanders out unless grave crime looms. Prima facie validation via inquiries is rule one. No rush to book for enmity, insults, nuisance, or seditious vibes without violence-fueling evidence.
Political barbs get constitutional armor under 19(1)(a)—no FIRs unless provoking instant havoc. Defamation? Magistrate’s domain; police on standby for BNSS 174(2) directives.
By embedding restraint and reason, these rules redefine digital policing, shielding discourse from abuse and ensuring laws serve justice, not vendettas.