Karnataka Government Provides Assurance to High Court Regarding New Crowd Control Legislation
The Karnataka state government provided a formal assurance to the Karnataka High Court on Monday, confirming that the contents of the draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the recommendations submitted by the amicus curiae have been thoroughly considered by the legislative assembly. This development pertains directly to the ongoing legislative process for the proposed Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Places of Gathering) Bill, 2025.
Government's Submission and Legislative Process Detailed
During the court proceedings, Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty presented the government's position. He stated that the bill has been officially referred to a dedicated committee for comprehensive consultation. Furthermore, he emphasized that the suggestions and feedback gathered through this committee process have been actively incorporated into the legislative review.
The legislative assembly is currently engaged in detailed deliberations on this critical public safety bill, which aims to establish robust frameworks for managing large gatherings and preventing incidents like stampedes.
Amicus Curiae Raises Concerns Over Legislative Gaps
Senior Advocate S Susheela, who was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court, presented a counterpoint during the hearing. She highlighted that there remain significant and critical gaps between the proposed legislation and the draft SOPs that were originally placed before the court for consideration.
This suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was registered by the High Court last year, initiated in the direct aftermath of the tragic stampede that occurred at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The court's intervention underscores the judicial system's proactive role in addressing public safety failures.
High Court Bench Disposes Petition with Specific Liberty
A division bench of the Karnataka High Court, presided over by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha, formally recorded the assurance provided by the Advocate General. Based on this submission, the bench proceeded to dispose of the ongoing PIL petition.
However, in a significant move, the court explicitly reserved the liberty for the amicus curiae, Senior Advocate S Susheela, to seek the revival of this petition in the future should a valid cause or necessity arise. This provision ensures continued judicial oversight and a pathway for legal recourse if the legislative process fails to adequately address the identified safety concerns.
The proposed Karnataka Crowd Control Bill represents a pivotal legislative effort to enhance public safety protocols across the state, particularly in urban centers like Bengaluru which frequently host large-scale events.
