- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka is planning to implement new crowd control laws, the draft bill of which has already been created. The law, which comes days after the horrible stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 people and wounded 56, was discussed in the cabinet today and is expected to be submitted to the parliament during the monsoon session.
The new laws, which, among other things, hold event planners and executors accountable, include three years in jail and severe fines starting at Rs 50,000 for offenders. According to the draft bill, violation will constitute a non-cognizable and non-bailable offense.
It offers a lengthy checklist to the organisers, which is seen to be a likely consequence of the stampede that DNA Networks and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been held accountable for.
"If the event planner does not apply (for police permission) 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, shall punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three tars or with fine up to five lakhs rupees or both," says the draft bill, as reported by NDTV.
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The other list of potential infractions for event planners includes willfully breaking the regulations, causing death or serious injury to anybody there, or causing a disturbance that leads to someone getting hurt, dying, or being stampeded. There are also provisions for penalty for abetment.
Event organisers that bring people together for profit-driven activities like circus or sports are also subject to penalties.
The bill is the result of widespread criticism of the Siddaramaiah-led state government following the stampede on June 4. The chief minister and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, have been held personally accountable by the state's opposition parties, the BJP and the JD(S), which have called for their resignation. The administration was charged with inadequate planning and hurried preparedness.