State Of Karnataka vs Paramjit Singh And Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the Karnataka High Court's ruling that the proviso to Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was unconstitutional as it violated Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution by allowing civil imprisonment without prescribed procedure. The Court clarified that while the main provision of Section 27 remains valid, penalties must be imposed in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. The judgment emphasized that the offence under Section 27 can only be tried in criminal courts following due process, thus ensuring the protection of fundamental rights.