HC questions suspension in stampede case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday questioned the state government over the suspension of senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash in connection with the stampede that occurred outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which led to the death of 11 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans. The court asked whether the officer’s suspension was warranted or if a transfer would have been a sufficient disciplinary step.

A division bench comprising Justices S G Pandit and T M Nadaf was hearing the state government’s plea against the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) July 1 order, which directed Vikash Kumar Vikash’s reinstatement. The tribunal held that the suspension lacked adequate justification and appeared “mechanical,” citing no clear evidence of dereliction of duty by the officer or his colleagues.

Advocate General K M Shashikiran Shetty, representing Karnataka, argued that the Tribunal had overstepped by attributing responsibility for the stampede to RCB, rather than the police. He sought an interim stay on the reinstatement order, stating that Vikash reported back to duty immediately after the CAT ruling.

However, the bench declined to issue an interim order and adjourned the case to July 9 after Vikash’s counsel assured the court that no contempt petition would be filed. The CAT had observed that RCB failed to take police permission before inviting the massive crowd via social media, leaving police little time to prepare. It concluded that the officers were suspended without sufficient cause and called the action unjustified.