An Imperative Born Of Necessity: Karnataka High Court Suggests Measures To Combat Cyber Crime

The Karnataka High Court observed that the Cyber Command Centre (CCC) established by the Government order must not remain in paper, but should be a paradigm shift in the fight against cyber crime. Therefore, it must be robustly fortified.

The Bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna observed, “The said Government Order establishes the CCC, but mere establishment would not be enough. If it remains inert, it would only become a paper implementation, in the face of growing menace of cyber crimes. This CCC should not be a mere edifice of bureaucracy, but a paradigm shift, a beacon heralding a new dawn in the fight against cyber crime. Giving it teeth in its true perspective would be making the CCC emerge as a new age antidote, to meet the new age crimes. Therefore, it must be robustly fortified.”

Case Brief

In April, 2025, the Court directed the Government to take steps towards implementation of creation of CCC. It was directed that the State must recognize the existential threat and evolve, lest justice to those victims would become a mirage, as the nation and States are grappling with the huge problem of cyber crime. The Apex Court also declined to interfere with the said order.

Thereafter, the State issued a Government Order to combat cyber crimes and strengthen cyber security. The Government Order also recommended endeavour to give life to the CCC or constitute it as a separate wing, to tackle cyber crime, akin to the CCB of the yore, which would be the cyber crime investigating bureau.

Court’s Observation

The High Court remarked that the said Government Order establishes the CCC, but mere establishment would not be enough. The Court opined that the CCC should not be a mere edifice of bureaucracy, but a paradigm shift, a beacon heralding a new dawn in the fight against cyber crime.

“Giving it teeth in its true perspective would be making the CCC emerge as a new age antidote, to meet the new age crimes. Therefore, it must be robustly fortified”, the Court added.

The High Court further underscored that the CCC must be insulated from external intrusion and the Officers that are brought under the umbrella of the CCC must serve with continuity and without disruptions of frequent transfers.

The Court observed, “To make it more effective, it is imperative that the officers of the CCC, particularly the person who heads the CCC, the Director General of Police, must not be transferred, except owing to exceptional circumstances, so that the functioning of the CCC should not remain illusory. The head of the CCC and his team working in the CCC must not be overnight de-positioned, without the consultation of the head of the CCC. I make it clear that it is consultation and not information, as any investigation by the CCC underway, should not be thwarted by repeated change of officers of the CCC.”

The Court also highlighted that it would be the duty of the CCC to ensure transparency in the functioning of the Centre and take steps towards such transparency, including alleged corruption within the Centre.

With regard to ill-equipped jurisdictional police stations to investigate cyber crimes, the Court emphasised that there should be integration of the system of jurisdictional police stations and the CCC for every offence.

The Court expressed its concern over the growing trend of faceless crime and said, “If all of what is aforesaid is not complied, in today’s world, where crimes are faceless, investigations would become baseless. In a faceless regime of criminals operating from anywhere at the click of the mouse, which should be tackled by the Investigating Officers who create an antidote to those mouse clicks from the hands of perpetrators of cyber crimes.”

Cause Title: Newspace Research And Technologies Private Limited Vs. The State Of Karnataka And Others

Click here to read/download Order