Karnataka tables crowd control bill in Assembly 2 months after Bengaluru stampede

India Today

9 hours ago

The Karnataka government has tabled a bill on crowd control that proposes stringent punishment for organising unpermitted events, civil disturbances and what it defines as a 'crowd disaster'.The Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Places of Gathering) Bill was introduced in the Assembly on Wednesday, more than two months after the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 killed 11 people and left several others injured. The incident occurred during an event to felicitate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team after their maiden IPL title win.advertisementAccording to the proposed legislation, any person intending to organise an event or function that would attract a mass gathering or a crowd must first obtain permission from the jurisdictional authority. If the expected crowd is fewer than 7,000 people, the officer in charge of the local police station may grant permission upon application from organisers after due enquiry.
For gatherings of more than 7,000 but fewer than 50,000, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the jurisdiction may grant permission, while for gatherings of over 50,000, the jurisdictional Superintendent of Police or the Commissioner of Police may do so after necessary checks.The bill states that any person who organises, attempts to organise, or abets the organisation of an unpermitted event shall be punished with imprisonment for a minimum of three years and up to seven years, or with a fine of up to Rs 1 crore, or both. It further provides that 'whoever disturbs or attempts to disturb or abets to disturb the orderly crowd in any event or function by way of creating rumours, statements, acts or causing any breach of peace including a threat of collective violence, destruction of property, or other unlawful acts shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine of rupees fifty thousand or both.'In the event of a crowd disaster, those found responsible for loss of property or life would face severe penalties, including imprisonment for a minimum of three years and up to seven years in cases of injury, and between 10 years and life imprisonment in cases of fatalities.The legislation also stipulates that anyone who disobeys or abets disobedience of lawful directions issued by a police officer of or above the rank of sub-inspector on duty, instructing dispersal from a place of gathering, will be liable to a fine of Rs 50,000 along with community service for a period of one month.Once enacted, the provisions under the bill will make the offences cognisable, non-bailable and triable by a judicial magistrate first class.- EndsIN THIS STORY#Karnataka