Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka High Court questions government over placing report in 'sealed cover'
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The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday questioned the state government for insisting on keeping its status report on the stampede in a sealed cover and underlined transparency and accountability in the investigation process.When the suo motu petition over the stampede, that claimed 11 lives on June 4, came up for hearing before Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty said the government was not shying away from disclosure, but wanted to avoid prejudicing ongoing inquiries."We will place both reports next week," he said, referring to preliminary findings and interim assessments prepared by the state. The AG stressed that certain observations in the report were of preliminary nature and could be sensationalised by the media if made public prematurely.The bench reiterated that it would consider the question of keeping the status report inside a sealed cover and announced its decision to appoint an amicus curiae. Further, the court said it would seek assistance from the amicus curiae before arriving at a decision on the matter.The court indicated a clear preference for transparency and accountability in the investigation process.The AG sought an adjournment of 20 to 25 days to allow all reports to come in. However, the bench appeared unconvinced. "Why should that restrict us?" the court asked, reiterating that the proceedings were not limited by the state's internal timelines.The court said it intended to implead the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and DNA Networks -- three entities involved in the conduct and management of the IPL match Advocates representing various applicants called for public disclosure of the state's report, arguing that transparency and accountability are vital.A counsel, quoting from a legal precedent, said, "A one-sided submission causes serious violation of natural justice." Another added, "Sealed covers lead to a culture of opacity."The bench directed the counsel seeking enhancement of compensation for victims to submit their application to the Advocate General so the state could respond accordingly.The court ordered that notices be issued to KSCA, RCB, and DNA Networks, making them party respondents. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23.
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Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Stampede report recommendations to be implemented in phased manner, says home minister
The government will implement the recommendations of the one-man judicial commission report on the June 4 stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in a phased manner, home minister G Parameshwara said on Friday. The tragedy, which occurred during Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, claimed 11 lives and left over 70 injured. Stampede report recommendations to be implemented in phased manner, says home minister The government's decision comes a day after the cabinet formally accepted the findings of the report submitted by retired high court judge John Michael D'Cunha. The cabinet has now decided to initiate legal and departmental proceedings against several individuals and private organisations, including the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), DNA Entertainment Networks, and RCB. 'The government has primarily accepted the report by justice John Michael D'Cunha on the stampede tragedy. We will try to implement the recommendations one after the other. The ongoing cases against RCB and DNA will continue. The officers involved have already been suspended and subjected to one form of punishment. Now, the government has decided to conduct a departmental inquiry,' Parameshwara said, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru. He added that the inquiry would be administrative in nature and handled internally by the state. 'The decision has been made after internal discussions,' he said. The cabinet note names KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, former KSCA president A Shankar, former treasurer Jayaram ES, RCB vice president Rajesh Menon, and DNA managing director Venkatavardhan as people against whom legal action will be initiated. While the cabinet did not outline specific legal steps, officials confirmed that action would follow based on the findings. The report has recommended a series of measures to improve crowd safety at large public events. These include introducing conditions that must be fulfilled before granting permissions and issuing guidelines for crowd management. The state government has agreed to consider these suggestions seriously in its phased implementation plan. Parameshwara clarified that the report does not name any political leaders, including Congress MLC K Govindaraju, who was removed as the political advisor to chief minister Siddaramaiah shortly after the incident. 'The report specifically mentions RCB, DNA, KSCA, and certain police officers,' he said. The government's announcement comes amid growing political friction, with the Opposition BJP rejecting the findings of the commission. BJP leaders have accused the Congress-led government of attempting to sidestep accountability and using the report to shift the blame. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said, 'The state government should hand over this case to a judicial inquiry led by a sitting judge and deliver justice to those who lost their lives.' Responding to the BJP's criticism, Parameshwara said the government has always encouraged the Opposition to offer constructive feedback. 'The BJP is in the opposition. We have always asked them to offer constructive criticism and submit suggestions, which we are willing to consider in the interest of the state and its people. They continue to criticise us, and we can't help it. It is natural for the opposition to criticise the ruling party. We did the same when we were in opposition. I cannot ask them not to criticise,' he said.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- NDTV
"Unsuitable And Unsafe": Probe Provides New Details In IPL Stampede Controversy
The Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission, appointed by the Karnataka Government, has deemed the Chinnaswamy Stadium "unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering", casting a shadow over some big-ticket matches, including the Women's World Cup games scheduled at the venue later this year. The state government constituted the one-man commission after a stampede killed 11 fans and injured scores of others, who had thronged the areas near the stadium to take part in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title celebration. "The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering," the commission deemed in its report which was recently tabled before the state cabinet, which the PTI has accessed. The Chinnaswamy Stadium is scheduled to host the opening game and the final of the ICC Women's WC later this year, and this observation and its acceptance by the state government could have a wider impact on those matches. It may be recalled that the KSCA has already decided to host this year's Maharaja Trophy T20 tournament, scheduled for next month, behind the doors. Further, the commission noted that the authorities should consider "relocating" large sporting events to venues that have the capacity to hold large gatherings. "Given these systematic limitations the commission strongly recommends that stadium authorities consider relocating events that are expected to attract large crowds to venues that are better suited for such large gatherings," the commission stated. The commission also proposed some remedial measures to avoid such tragic events in future such as "adequate entry-exit gates for mass entry and exit (ingress and egress), and emergency evacuation plans compliant with international safety norms." The commission then deemed that holding "mass events" until these preventive measures are met could cause more damages. "Until such infrastructural changes are made, continuing to host high attendance events at the current location poses unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility and emergency preparedness," it said. The commission also suggested initiating legal proceedings KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, now-resigned secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam, RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Entertainment Networks MD T Venkat Vardhan and VP Sunil Mathur. Meanwhile, the DNA has approached the Karnataka High Court against the constitution of the commission and its findings.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru stampede: D'Cunha report blames RCB, KSCA, DNA for tragedy; firm moves HC, calls it ‘biased, hasty'
The Karnataka cabinet has accepted the Justice John Michael D'Cunha report on the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, which resulted in 11 fatalities. Consequently, the cabinet has announced legal action against the RCB franchise, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment Networks. BENGALURU: The Siddaramaiah cabinet on Thursday decided to initiate legal action based on retired high court judge John Michael D'Cunha's report indicting IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks for the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium in which 11 cricket fans died and over 50 others were injured. 'Action against (suspended) govt officials depends on the outcome of the departmental inquiry,' law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil said after the cabinet meeting, in which the inquiry report into the stampede was formally accepted. DNA Entertainment immediately filed a petition in Karnataka high court, asking for the inquiry commission's report to be quashed on grounds of alleged procedural lapses and bias. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru CM Siddaramaiah suspended former Bengaluru police chief B Dayananda and four other senior cops on charges of crowd-management lapses, while fending off allegations that his govt was just as responsible for clearing a victory parade for IPL champions RCB even before the final in Ahmedabad got over on June 3. The Central Administrative Tribunal has since stayed the suspensions. DNA Entertainment's petition alleges that the report was submitted in 'undue haste', ignoring 'critical documentation' demonstrating the firm's efforts to manage the event inside the stadium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Prettiest Icons In The History The Noodle Box Undo It argues that an event management company can not be held liable for crowd mismanagement outside the venue, which is under govt's jurisdiction. The firm has also flagged simultaneous inquiries in alleged violation of Article 20(2) of the Constitution, which prohibits multiple proceedings for the same offence. The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of the stampede deaths and sought a report from the state govt, following which the commission of inquiry was announced. A parallel CID investigation and a magisterial inquiry led by the deputy commissioner (Bengaluru urban) are underway. The D'Cunha Commission named KSCA chief Raghuram Bhat, former secretary A Shankar, ex-treasurer E S Jayaram, RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon, DNA Entertainment managing director T Venkatavardhan and vice-president Sunil Mathur, among others, as being responsible for the stampede.
