Weeks after Bengaluru stampede, Karnataka drafts law to regulate mass gatherings
The move comes weeks after the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory parade, which killed 11 people and injured over 56.
The proposed law -- The Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025 -- was discussed at the meeting of the state cabinet on Thursday.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said the draft bill will be placed again for the cabinet's approval at its next meeting.
'Four bills were proposed today -- Karnataka Crowd Control, Managing Crowd at Events and Venue of Mass Gathering Bill, 2025; Karnataka Rohith Vemula Bill, 2025; Karnataka Misinformation, Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025; and Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025,' he told reporters.
'It has been decided that before the next cabinet meeting, the ministers concerned will meet and discuss and bring the bills before the cabinet,' Patil said.
The proposed bill comprises a legal framework to regulate gatherings at 'sponsored events and venues of mass gathering pertaining to political rally, jatra, conference, etc.' and seeks to fix accountability of organisers.
HT has reviewed the proposed legislation, which does not cover certain events, such as religious and traditional gatherings. 'This Act shall not apply to Jatra, Rathotsava, Pallakki Utsava, Teppada Teru, urus, or any religious event pertaining to any religion, caste or creed,' the draft bill said.
'If the event planner does not apply before conducting the event or fails to control the crowd gathered and fails to give the compensation or violates the provisions of this Act or rules made hereunder in any other way, [they] shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine up to five lakhs rupees or both,' it said.
It also proposes that event planners who intentionally ignore regulations or fail to take police permission before holding a gathering will be held liable if the event results in death, injury, or stampede.
These offences are classified as non-cognisable and non-bailable, triable by a magistrate of the first class.
The legislation also criminalises aiding or abetting a crime at such events. It states, 'Whoever knowingly or unknowingly believes commission or omission of any other person would be an offence under the Act' will face legal action.
The cabinet also discussed the draft Rohith Vemula Bill, aimed at addressing caste discrimination in higher education. The proposed law reportedly includes provisions for up to ₹1 lakh in compensation for affected students, along with a one-year jail term and a fine of ₹10,000 for those found guilty of discriminatory actions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
21 minutes ago
- Hans India
Bihar: NIA charge sheets another accused in the PFI case, funds traced to Dubai
Patna: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge sheeted Md Sajjad Alam of East Champaran, Bihar, in connection with the anti-national activities of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), making him the 18th accused to be arrested and charge sheeted in the case. The NIA filed its supplementary charge sheet before the NIA Special Court, Patna, charging Sajjad under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P)A). Sajjad, an active PFI cadre, was arrested at Delhi's IGI Airport in January this year upon his arrival from Dubai. According to NIA investigations, Sajjad was channelling illegal funds from Dubai to PFI operatives in Bihar through a syndicate operating in Karnataka and Kerala. These funds were allegedly used to further the criminal and unlawful activities of PFI even after the organisation was banned by the Union government. The NIA stated that the broader PFI conspiracy aimed to 'establish' Islamic rule in India by 2047 and involved activities designed to terrorise people and disrupt peace by spreading communal enmity. The case was originally registered on 12 July 2022 at Phulwarisharif Police Station, Patna, against 26 individuals under IPC sections. The NIA took over the probe, invoking the UA(P)A and previously charge sheeting 17 accused. The PFI module was initially busted by the Patna Police and the ATS in 2022 while conducting physical training camps for Muslim youths at Phulwarisharif under the PFI banner. The camps, held at the house of Mohammad Jalaluddin, a retired Jharkhand police sub-inspector, along with Athar Parvez, allegedly aimed at brainwashing youths against India. Athar Parvez's brother, Manzar Alam, was involved in the 2013 Patna Gandhi Maidan serial blast during Narendra Modi's 'Hunkar Rally'. The then Patna SSP, Manavjeet Singh Dhillon, had recommended handing over the case to the NIA, following which the agency began its probe. The NIA has indicated that further investigations in the case are ongoing to uncover deeper financial and operational networks of the banned PFI in Bihar and other states.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Kerala University V-C suspends Registrar, sparks political row and legal showdown
In a move that has intensified the ongoing tensions within the top echelons of Kerala University, Vice-Chancellor in-charge Mohanan Kunnummal on Wednesday suspended Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar in connection with a recent fracas during a programme attended by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The suspension, which has triggered both political backlash and the prospect of legal confrontation, relates to the event at here Senate Hall where a function was 'disrupted' over the display of the controversial Bharat Mata portrait. The Vice-Chancellor invoked special powers under Section 10(13) of the Kerala University Act, 1974, citing 'urgency,' and suspended Dr. Kumar with immediate effect for 'wilful disobedience, insubordination and dereliction of duty.' Dr. Kumar has announced his intention to legally challenge the disciplinary action, setting the stage for a prolonged dispute and potential administrative gridlock. In the interim, Joint Registrar (Administration) P. Harikumar has been appointed to officiate as Registrar. In a curious turn of events, Raj Bhavan later issued an order appointing Digital University Kerala Vice-Chancellor in-charge Ciza Thomas to officiate as Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University until July 8. This was necessitated by Prof. Kunnummal's travel to Russia, sources said. Dr. Kumar's suspension comes just days after the Vice-Chancellor recommended an inquiry to Raj Bhavan, accusing Dr. Kumar of misconduct for allegedly issuing an order to cancel the event while the Governor was on stage and the National Anthem was being played. Dr. Kumar, however, refuted the charge, asserting that the cancellation order was issued before the Governor arrived on the campus. Sources indicated that the Vice-Chancellor had advised Dr. Kumar not to interfere with the programme, describing it as a 'private event.' The Registrar was also accused of addressing the media from a stage 'sanitised for anti-terror activities.' The Vice-Chancellor's report claimed that Dr. Kumar's actions were prejudicial to the university's interests and warranted disciplinary action. The suspension has drawn a sharp rebuke from the State government. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu condemned the move as a blatant violation of rules and an overreach of authority. 'There is no provision in the university Act, statutes or regulations that allows the Vice-Chancellor to unilaterally suspend the Registrar. The authority to take disciplinary action against the Registrar lies solely with the Syndicate, which is the appointing authority. At best, the Vice-Chancellor can refer the matter to the Syndicate,' she said. Dr. Bindu also alleged that the Vice-Chancellor's action appeared ideologically motivated rather than administrative. 'He has shown open affiliations with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-backed efforts,' she added. Left-backed Syndicate members also accused the Vice-Chancellor of bypassing established procedures by misusing his authority. They also warned that any disciplinary action not ratified by the Syndicate could be overturned.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Karnataka challenges order to reinstate Bengaluru cop suspended after stampede
The Karnataka government on Wednesday approached the High Court challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) order reinstating Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, who was suspended following a stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations on June 4 which led to the deaths of 11 people and left several others injured. The Central Administrative Tribunal's Bengaluru bench, comprising BK Shrivastava and Santosh Mehra, had on July 1 quashed Vikash's suspension, terming the state's action as 'mechanical' and lacking substantial grounds. The Tribunal held that the state had failed to present convincing material to justify the suspension. 'The order has not been based on convincing materials the officers have been suspended without sufficient material or grounds,' the Tribunal said, directing the state to reinstate Vikash response, the state government filed a writ petition before the Karnataka High Court, contending that the Tribunal had overstepped its jurisdiction by making determinations on the stampede without the benefit of a full-fledged departmental inquiry. It described the Tribunal's reasoning as 'perverse' and inconsistent with established legal principles concerning suspension. The government stated that it had submitted substantial supporting material in a sealed cover, including extracts from the Karnataka Police Manual and a detailed chronology of events from June 3 and 4. This material, it argued, was not properly considered by the Tribunal. 'Despite placing material on record justifying the suspension, the Tribunal failed to assess it in the right perspective,' the petition government also took issue with the Tribunal's interpretation regarding the status of ongoing inquiries. It noted that both a magisterial probe and a one-man commission were underway, and that disciplinary action had already been initiated based on preliminary findings. A departmental inquiry, reportedly at an advanced stage and initiated at the direction of the central government, was communicated orally to the Tribunal on June 30. However, the government claimed that this was overlooked in the final the state objected to the Tribunal's remarks concerning four other suspended officers — B Dayananda, Shekar H Tekkannavar, C Balakrishna, and AK Girish — who had not challenged their suspension and were not parties to the case. The government described the Tribunal's suggestion of reinstating them as 'highly irregular', arguing that such observations had been made without examining their individual roles, service records, or the factual context of the Karnataka High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
