Meenakshi Shukla
On 19 June 2025, in response to the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka Government has proposed a new Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025.The Bill aims to regulate public gatherings and improve safety protocols across the state. It addresses the long-standing issue of unregulated crowd management at mass events.
The heartbreaking loss of 11 lives during the RCB IPL victory celebration shook the state and revealed deep cracks in how large crowds are managed. In the wake of this tragedy, the Karnataka Government is stepping up to introduce a law that holds organisers, authorities, and even intermediaries truly accountable so that such a devastating failure never happens again.
The following are the major chapters of the Bill:
- Chapter I – Preliminary
- Chapter II – Conducting of Events
- Chapter III – Aid, Abet or Otherwise Assistance for Committing Crime at Event or Venue
- Chapter IV – Victim Impact Assessment
- Chapter V – Prevention of Acts Leading to Crowd Gathering
- Chapter VI – Awareness, Education and Training
- Chapter VII – Miscellaneous
This Bill focuses on political rallies, conferences, and other large sponsored events. However, it expressly excludes religious gatherings such as jatras, urus, rathotsavas, pallakki utsavas, and other similar faith-based ceremonies. The exclusion aims to respect religious freedoms while still targeting high-risk, non-religious crowd events.
The Bill mandates prior police permission for events expecting large gatherings. Organisers must submit details, including the estimated crowd size, to the local police. Authorities are empowered to approve, change, or cancel such events in emergencies or for public safety.
If an organiser fails to comply with the law, they face penalties. General offenders may be imprisoned for up to three years or fined ₹5,000. For commercial event organisers, like those holding sports events or circuses, the fine increases to ₹5 lakh. Those who aid, abet, or financially support unlawful events that result in harm may also face imprisonment for up to three years.
The Bill states that event organisers will be liable for injuries or deaths caused due to mismanagement. If they fail to pay compensation, the Government can recover the amount as land revenue dues. It can also auction the organiser’s property to recover costs.
A notable feature of the Bill is the inclusion of Victim Impact Statements. Courts must consider these during sentencing, allowing victims or their families to describe physical, psychological, and financial harms suffered. This provision reflects a victim-centric approach rarely seen in crowd management laws.
Importantly, the Bill empowers District Magistrates and competent authorities to prohibit or regulate any event that may incite communal disharmony or endanger public safety. They can also control the use of loudspeakers, sound systems, and public processions.
The Government will also be responsible for promoting awareness about the risks of crowd-related incidents. Training programs for public officials will be conducted to strengthen stampede prevention and social context understanding.
The Act will work in addition to existing laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, unless there is a conflict. Officers acting in good faith under this law will receive legal protection.
The Bill is expected to be presented in the next cabinet meeting. If passed, it will mark a momentous shift in how Karnataka handles mass gatherings and public safety.
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