Bengaluru, Oct. 23 -- In a significant ruling concerning the prosecution of fertiliser dealers, the Karnataka High Court has held that a seller cannot be held criminally liable solely because fertiliser supplied in sealed packages is found to be below prescribed quality standards.

The Dharwad Bench, presided over by Justice T. Venkatesh Naik, quashed criminal proceedings against Bagalkot-based fertiliser supplier Allahbaksh M. Makandar, who had challenged a case pending before the Principal Civil Judge and JMFC court in Bagalkot.

The High Court observed that the complaint lacked specific allegations showing that Makandar had any responsibility for manufacturing the fertiliser or regulating its quality. Since he was only a dealer selling...