The Karnataka High Court, on July 17, 2025, recalled its earlier order which had quashed the proceedings under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, against Infosys co-founder S. Krish Gopalakrishnan and several faculty members of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). These proceedings stemmed from serious allegations of wrongful dismissal and caste-based discrimination raised by a former professor at IISc.
Those named in the FIR, besides Gopalakrishnan, include prominent IISc faculty members such as Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier, Sandya Vishwswaraih, Hari K V S, Dasappa, Balaram P, Hemalata Mhishi, Chattopadyaya K, Pradeep D Sawkar, and Manoharan.
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Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the fresh order recalling the earlier judgment dated April 16, 2025. This decision came after the complainant filed an application asserting that the court had issued the previous order without hearing his side of the story.
“Learned Senior counsel for petitioners would not dispute that when the matter was disposed neither the respondent no.1 or his counsel were present physically or through video conferencing and that they were heard on that day,” the High Court observed.
Given this lack of opportunity for the complainant to be heard, the court decided to recall its previous decision to ensure fairness.
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“In that view of the facts and circumstance without expressing any opinion and in order to provide one more opportunity to respondent no.1 (complainant) to make submissions on the merits of the matter. I deem it just and appropriate to recall the final order and restore the petition on the file subject to condition that the respondent no.1 would proceed with the matter on the next date of hearing,” the court stated.
The court further added that the interim stay on the proceedings would remain in effect until the next hearing date, August 7, 2025, and expected the complainant to present his arguments on that date.
It is important to note that the coordinate bench, in its earlier order, had quashed the proceedings stating:
“On perusal of the complaint, it is clear that the allegations made against the petitioners do not constitute offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.”
The complainant, Dr. D Sanna Durgappa, alleged that he was falsely implicated in a honey trap case in 2014, which subsequently led to his termination from IISc. He also accused the involved parties of caste-based abuse and threats. Since 2022, S. Krish Gopalakrishnan has served as the Chairman of the IISc Council.
In its previous ruling, the coordinate bench had also given liberty to the accused to approach the Advocate General for permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against the complainant.
Case Title: Prof Govindan Rangarajan & Others vs. Dr D Sanna Durgappa & ANR
Case Number: WP 2550/2025
Appearance: Senior Advocate S S Ramdas (for Petitioners) through Advocate Syed Kashif Ali
Advocate Manoj S N appeared for the Respondent.