HC Defers Stampede Hearing to June 12

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has postponed the hearing of the suo-motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) registered on June 5 in connection with the tragic stampede that occurred outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) celebration on June 4. The incident claimed 11 lives and injured several others.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice C. M. Joshi heard the matter on Tuesday and directed the government to file its response in a closed bench by June 12. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the state, informed the court that a commission of inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge has been established and given one month to submit its findings.

Shetty also stated that the government had not yet filed its official response, citing the sensitivity of the case. Given the potential for misuse of sensitive details during ongoing bail hearings of the accused, the court permitted the state to present its response confidentially.

In response to the growing concern over the administration's accountability, five police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, have been suspended pending inquiry.

The court also acknowledged the requests of senior advocate K. Divakar and former MLC Mohan Kumar Kondaganti, who have applied to join the proceedings as intervenors. Additionally, a separate PIL has reportedly been filed regarding the incident.

Taking all developments into consideration, the High Court has instructed the government to submit its full response by June 12, after which it will review all pending applications and proceed accordingly.