On Monday, July 14, the Karnataka High Court mandated that the state government make its status report on the deadly stampede incident that took place outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) celebration of their IPL victory publicly available. Eleven individuals were killed and more than fifty were injured in the rush.
In a sealed cover, the state government filed a status report after the stampede, asking that it be kept secret. The study was a component of a suo motu public interest lawsuit that was started in order to assess responsibility and provide safeguards for upcoming public events. The administration stated the revelation might have an impact on the ongoing investigations into the incident by the Judicial Commission and the Magisterial.
Nevertheless, the state’s request for confidentiality was denied by a division bench made up of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi. The bench decided that the report’s contents solely represented the government’s interpretation of the facts and did not adhere to the sealed cover protection methodology, which is only applicable in cases involving privacy rights, public interest, or national security.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB, and DNA Entertainment Networks, who were involved in the event’s organisation, were ordered by the High Court to get the report from the state, along with any translations that may be required.
The court stressed that senior officials and retired judges who are in charge of the investigations are supposed to maintain their objectivity and not be swayed by the findings. It is anticipated that these parties will assist the court in better comprehending the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, the causes of the widespread crowd mishandling, and if the catastrophe might have been avoided.
DNA and RCB officers provide testimony
Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty made submissions that contributed to the ruling, arguing that the sealed cover was necessary until all formal investigations were completed. Amicus curiae S. Susheela, however, drew attention to the necessity of transparency and the absence of legal justifications for the delay.
RCB was previously held responsible by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for drawing a throng of about three to five lakh persons with its uncontrolled social media victory parade announcements. The judge emphasised that RCB contributed to the pandemonium by proceeding without the necessary authorisations. Inspector General Vikash Kumar and other Bengaluru police officers were fired for neglecting their duties; the decision is still being reviewed.
In the meantime, as part of a CID investigation, RCB and DNA personnel have provided testimony. Since the disaster, RCB has not provided any updates, despite initially announcing higher compensation for the relatives of the victims and the creation of a relief fund called RCB Cares.
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