Bengaluru Stampede: 'Suo Motu PIL Aims To Look Into State Action, Future Measures': Karnataka HC; Govt Asked To Submit Crowd Control SOP

The Karnataka High Court today heard the suo-motu petition initiated regarding the Bengaluru stampede which occurred outside Chinnaswamy stadium, ahead of an event to celebrate RCB's victory at the 2025 IPL final. At the outset, a bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru & Justice CM Joshi clarified the scope of the suo moto PIL as it orally observed thus: "This is a suo moto writ plea as the lives of citizens have been lost. We are only looking at two things: first, whether the state is taking an action, and two, what could be the protocol so that these things do not occur in future". During the course of the hearing, referring to the huge crowd turnout at the event, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty said nearly 3 lakh people came to the stadium, when the capacity was only 35,000 people. He added, "Free entry was there, so a large crowd came there and everybody wanted to enter the stadium". Furthermore, AG also sought time to place on record the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on crowd management as he submitted that he would be circulating the SOP and seeking suggestions on the same. DNA Entertainment Flags Tarnishing of Reputation Appearing for DNA Entertainment Ltd., Senior Advocate B K Sampath submitted before the bench that despite the report having been submitted over 15 days ago, it had not been furnished to them. He also added that his reputation is getting affected "Our reputation is being tarnished every day. We have not been given the report till date even after 15 days. We are being named and shamed in the media", he submitted. Referring to proceedings before a coordinate bench earlier today, the counsel stated that the State had submitted that since the present PIL is pending, no order should be passed. He thus requested the Court to clarify that the pending suo motu PIL will not hinder the maintainability or hearing of the separate challenge to the commission's report. Read more about DNA Entertainment's submissions before a different bench earlier today: 'Reputation Being Tarnished': DNA Entertainment To Karnataka High Court In Plea To Quash Inquiry Commission's Report On Bengaluru Stampede Amicus refers to the existing Guidelines, calls for collective responsibility Amicus Curiae S. Susheela, in her submissions, referred to National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) guidelines for 'Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering' that have existed since 2014. "If they want to improvise on this, fair enough. Our endeavour should be that no such incidents occur in future", she stated. Stressing the need for shared accountability and referring to a book authored by G Keith Still named 'Introduction to Crowd Science', she added, "Different departments should take responsibility in different ways. Collective responsibility is required in this case". At this juncture, the Court also referred to the recent Mansa Devi stampede in Haridwar while discussing the need for robust preventive mechanisms. The Court also suggested that the event organisers must apply for police permissions for such incidents, and the police department should have a 'check box' system to verify crowd control arrangements. The court also added that different events would have different ways to manage crowds, and the same should be examined by the State and seek suggestions from experts or the Disaster Management Authority. Furthermore, a counsel representing an applicant, a newspaper editor and social activist, sought impleadment and urged the Court to provide him with the certified copies of the commission's report, amicus' submissions and the objections which he claimed were kept in a sealed cover. The Court, however, clarified that this is a PIL, and no documents will be kept in sealed cover, although some may not yet have been opened. When the counsel claimed that some documents had indeed been kept sealed, the Court clarified, "This is a PIL. Nothing will be in a sealed cover. Everything will be part of the record". When asked whether the applicant possessed special expertise in crowd management, the counsel stated they had submitted some research. The Court was thus not inclined to allow his impleadment. Recording the Advocate General's submission that the SOP will be placed on record shortly, the Court adjourned the matter to September 1. Development in the matter till now On June 5, 2025, the High Court took a suo motu cognizance of the stampede in which 11 people lost their lives and over 30 people sustained injuries. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty had admitted that over 2.5 lakh people had gathered near the stadium and that 1,483 police personnel including 1,318 officers, had been deployed at the incident site. It was apprised to the bench that the crowd had come from various districts, including Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Yadgir, and Tumkur....

Bengaluru Stampede: 'Suo Motu PIL Aims To Look Into State Action, Future Measures': Karnataka HC; Govt Asked To Submit Crowd Control SOP

Sparsh Upadhyay

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