India, May 29 -- The Karnataka high court on Thursday set aside the state government's order that directed prosecutors to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including one registered for the attack on a police station by a large group of people during the 2022 Hubballi riots.

A bench of chief justice NV Anjaria and justice KV Aravind said the state government's order was "illegal" and "violated Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code" (CrPC) that empowers the public prosecutor to withdraw prosecution with the court's consent.

"GO (government order) is set aside. It is declared that the order shall stand non est from inception. Consequences in law will follow," the high court said, allowing a public interest litigation filed by Girish Bharadw...