In the wake of the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4th, which resulted in 11 fatalities and 56 injuries during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory parade, the Karnataka government is considering a new crowd control bill. The Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025, aims to establish a legal framework for regulating gatherings at sponsored events and venues of mass gatherings, encompassing political rallies, conferences, and more. The bill seeks to fix accountability of organizers and prevent future incidents by enforcing stricter crowd management protocols.
The proposed legislation outlines penalties for organizers who fail to obtain prior permission, neglect crowd management responsibilities, or violate the bill's provisions. These penalties may include imprisonment for up to three years and fines potentially reaching ₹5 lakh (INR 500,000). Some reports suggest the fine could start from ₹50,000. Violations would also be treated as non-cognizable and non-bailable offenses. The draft bill specifies that event planners will be required to compensate victims of stampede-like incidents and if the event planner fails to pay the compensation, the government may collect the amount as arrears of land revenue, and the event planner's property can be auctioned by the government.
The bill intends to hold event planners and executors accountable for lapses in crowd management. If the event planner does not apply for police permission before conducting the event, fails to control the crowd gathered, does not provide compensation or violates any provisions of the Act or its rules in any manner, they shall be punishable with imprisonment up to three years or with fine up to ₹5 lakh or both. Other offenses include deliberate violation of regulations, incidents leading to death or bodily injury, and crowd disturbances resulting in injury or stampede. There are also provisions for penalizing abetment and for organisers of commercially driven gatherings, such as sporting events or circuses.
However, the proposed law has certain limitations. It will not apply to traditional religious gatherings such as Jatra, Rathotsava, Pallakki Utsava, Teppada Teru and Urus.
The bill was discussed in the state cabinet on Thursday, June 19, 2025, and is expected to be tabled in the next state cabinet meeting after a more detailed review. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said that before the next cabinet meeting, the ministers concerned will meet and discuss and bring the bills before the cabinet.
In addition to the crowd control bill, the Karnataka government is also considering other key legislations, including the Karnataka Rohith Vemula Bill, 2025; the Karnataka Misinformation, Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025; and the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Prevention Bill, 2025. The draft Rohith Vemula Bill reportedly includes provisions for up to Rs 1 lakh in compensation for students facing caste-based discrimination in higher education, along with a one-year jail term and a fine of Rs 10,000 for offenders.
