High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Media Reports on Kasol Rave Party
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has taken serious note of media reports alleging a large-scale rave party in the Kasol area of Kullu district. The court has directed the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Kullu to conduct a spot inspection and submit a report within 10 days.
Hearing the matter during the court vacation, Justice Romesh Verma observed that a news report published on June 6 by a local media organization under the headline "Thousands Revellers Converge at Mini Israel in Kasol as Raves Return to Parvati Valley under the Nose of Govt" raised serious concerns. The court took on record the news report and accompanying photographs, which alleged that a four-day event was being held in Kasol from June 7 to 11.
Details of the Alleged Rave Party
According to the news report, the event was being aggressively promoted by the organizers, with ticket prices ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 16,000 per participant. Visitors were reportedly arriving from several Indian cities, including Chandigarh, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Goa, as well as from overseas destinations such as Israel. The report further claimed that nearly 10,000 people had booked for the event and that Israeli nationals were among the main organizers. Videos featuring high-decibel music were allegedly being circulated on social media to attract more participants.
Court Orders Immediate Inspection
Taking note of these claims, the vacation judge directed the DLSA secretary, Kullu, to visit the venue immediately with the assistance of local administration and police authorities. The deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police (SP) of Kullu have also been ordered to file personal affidavits responding to the contents of the news report, particularly in light of an affidavit submitted by the SP on October 1, 2025.
Background of the Case
The matter stems from a public interest litigation initiated on the basis of a letter sent by the Himalayan Environment Protection Society, Kullu, last year. The organization had alleged that rave parties were being organized in Kasol, Jibhi, Manali, and other parts of Kullu district under the guise of tourism, with entry fees ranging from Rs 5,000 to as high as Rs 7 lakh.
The affidavits filed by the Kullu and Mandi SPs in October last year had stated that no FIRs related to rave parties had been registered in their respective districts and that the authorities were maintaining strict vigilance. The case is now scheduled to be heard on June 18.
