Bengaluru stampede: K’taka HC seeks govt progress report, next hearing on Tuesday

The Karnataka High Court, in a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameshwara Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi, on Wednesday heard the suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to yesterday’s Chinnaswamy stampede that killed 11 youngsters, directing the state government to first submit a progress report on the incident.

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The PIL petitioner’s counsel urged the court to issue notices to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council. The advocate pressed for immediate arguments on the interim application, seeking urgent judicial intervention and clarification on the role of organisers.

However, Acting CJ Kameshwara Rao stated, “Let the progress report be submitted first, and then we will hear your arguments.” The bench emphasized the need to first assess the steps taken by the government following the incident, which has sparked public outcry and raised questions over safety lapses.

“What is the reason for this tragedy?” the court asked, directing the state to clarify the sequence of events and actions initiated since. The bench instructed that a detailed progress report must be submitted in the next hearing.

The matter has now been adjourned to next Tuesday. The PIL is expected to bring further scrutiny to the roles of various stakeholders, including government agencies and event organisers, in the lead-up to the tragedy.