Kasol Rave Party: HP High Court Orders Transfer Of Kullu Deputy Commissioner, SP, SDM For Granting Silent Permission; Orders SIT Probe
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has come down heavily on the Kasol district administration over the organisation of large-scale rave parties in the hamlet, observing that the events appeared to have been conducted with “tacit permission” and possible collusion of officials.Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi observed, "...had there not been an intervention by the...
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has come down heavily on the Kasol district administration over the organisation of large-scale rave parties in the hamlet, observing that the events appeared to have been conducted with “tacit permission” and possible collusion of officials.
Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin C. Negi observed, "...had there not been an intervention by the Vacation Bench on 9 June, 2026, the party would have merrily continued from 7th to 11th June, 2026, on the strength of the tacit permission of the SDM, Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police."
The Court said it was also apparent that even though an adverse report by a competent officer as senior as the Deputy Superintendent of Police had been received, recommending that permission should not be granted on account of the apprehended organization of rave parties and unauthorized activities, apart from large-scale consumption of drugs, permission was nevertheless granted.
Thus, it appears that both the officers, as also the concerned SDM have failed in their duties in maintaining public order and rather facilitated the organization of large-scale rave parties, it added.
Large-Scale Parties Not Possible Without Administrative Connivance
The Court said that when large-scale parties involving 4,000 to 5,000 persons are organized on payment of high entry fees, the same constitutes a commercial venture. It is difficult for us to accept that this was done without the connivance of the local administration, Court said.
It opined that the knee-jerk reaction now sought to be justified, namely that raids were conducted on 9th June, 2026, and that office orders were passed by the Superintendent of Police directing random sampling of attendees and requiring the DSP Headquarters) to ensure thorough checking at the spot, was undertaken only after the orders passed by this Court.
The medical officers were deputed from the medical staff on 9th June, 2026, which apparently occurred only after the Vacation Bench of this Court had taken cognizance of the matter and passed necessary directions for inspection of the site.
It is thus apparent that all the three officials in question are required to be proceeded against departmentally, it added.
Spoiling Local Environment
The Court noted that the Superintendent of Police had sought additional personnel vide letter dated 12 June, 2026, when the event was already over, though permission had been sought much earlier and there was an adverse report as far back as 5 June, 2026.
"The organization of such parties not only spoils the local environment, but the residents of the area also have to face hordes of intoxicated tourists. Issues of law and order fall within the domain of the officials concerned and, apparently, the same has not been addressed with the requisite diligence, rather it smacks of collusion with the organizers and Officers at the District level." it added".
In the light of the above, the Court directed the State to "take necessary action and shall, firstly, transfer all the three officers within a period of one week from today. State shall thereafter proceed with in accordance with law, as observed above by lodging the necessary FIR and setting up the Special Investigating Team initiating departmental proceeding against the said three officers. S
"Such directions are necessary to restore administrative confidence and, therefore, it is necessary that the Superintendent of Police of IPS cadre be posted at Kullu, and who shall be part of the S.I.T," said the Court.
The Court was hearing a batch of matters concerning illegal rave parties and drug abuse in Kullu and adjoining areas. Taking serious note of events held between June 7 and 11, 2026 at Green Forest venues near Kasol, the Bench said the case reflected a “classical case of abject surrender” by the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu and the Superintendent of Police.
The Court noted that despite prior judicial scrutiny of drug-related issues and a specific warning report by the Deputy Superintendent of Police highlighting the likelihood of narcotics use and unlawful activities, permission for the events was still granted by the authorities.
A report by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), based on a site inspection, confirmed large gatherings of 3,000–5,000 persons, presence of liquor without permit, recovery of drug-related materials such as rolling papers, and seizure of CCTV footage. Two FIRs were registered after police intervention, and two tourists were found in possession of cocaine and LSD. The Court also took note of the suspected drug overdose death of a foreign national DJ.
Title: Deshinder Khanna vs. State of HP and Ors.