2 days ago
Crowd control Bill proposes to auction property of event planner for denial of compensation to injured, dead
After backlash over the stampede that claimed the lives of 11 cricket fans outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, the Karnataka government has proposed to make a new law for crowd control at events and venues of mass gathering.
The draft of the Bill said that the event planner is responsible for paying the compensation to the person injured and to the family member in case of a death. It proposes that the event planner's property will be auctioned by the government in case of non-payment of the compensation.
Draft Bills discussed by Cabinet
Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025
Karnataka Rohit Vemula Bill, 2025
Karnataka Misinformation, Fake News Prohibition Bill, 2025
Karnataka Hate Speech and Crime Prevention Bill, 2025
A draft of the Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering) Bill, 2025, was discussed in the State Cabinet meeting on Thursday. The draft Bill says, 'It is expedient to effectively manage and control crowds at sponsored events and venues of mass gathering pertaining to political rally, jatra, conference etc. in the State.' The content of the Bill is not finalised so far.
Exemption to religious events
However, the draft Bill has proposed to exclude 'jatra', 'rathotsava', 'pallakki utsava', 'teppada teru', 'urs', and other religious events pertaining to any religion, caste or creed.
It said that the organiser of the event has to apply to the jurisdictional police station with the details of the approximate number of participants. The jurisdictional police station might change the date, time or venue by giving the reasons, it said.
In case of violation of the law, the Bill said the event planner would be punished with imprisonment for a term which would be extended to three years or with a fine of up to ₹5 lakh or both.
What are the offences
Offences of event planners would be not seeking prior permission of the jurisdictional police, death or injury of participants, and stampede at the event. Aiding, abetting or other assistance for committing a crime at an event or venue, too, would be punished, the draft Bill said.
The event planner is responsible to pay the compensation to the person who is severely injured in the event, mass gathering pertaining to political rally, jatra, conference etc. or compensation to the family member of the deceased, it said.
The draft Bill proposed that if the event planner does not pay compensation, the government may collect the amount as arrears of land revenue. The event planner's property can be auctioned by the government.
The next Cabinet meeting would take a decision on this Bill and other Bills discussed, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil told reporters.
