The tragic stampede that killed 11 people and injured over 60 during the RCB victory celebration at Chinnaswamy Stadium is more than just a one-off failure—it’s a stark reflection of the deepening governance crisis in Bengaluru. What should have been a festive event turned into a fatal stampede, exposing the rot in the city’s administrative systems.
This incident is not merely a logistical oversight. It represents a fundamental collapse in upholding rule of law, enforcing accountability, and protecting citizens’ lives. Despite its status as India’s tech capital, Bengaluru was unable to safely manage a public event—a basic task for any functioning urban government.
Blatant Violation of Procedures
Every public gathering in Bengaluru requires multiple approvals. Event organizers must submit applications to the police, city administration, fire, health, and disaster management departments, etc., around 12-15 authorities in total. These are reviewed over a 15-day period before an event is cleared.
Yet, for the RCB celebration, none of this protocol was followed. KSCA , RCB and DNA Events reportedly hosted the event without even applying for permission. Simply put, the event was illegal. That such a large, unsanctioned gathering was allowed to proceed—despite clear rules—reveals how easily laws can be ignored. The inaction of the city administration and police to stop an illegal event is further proof that there is governance failure.
Political Complicity and Conflict of Interest
What makes matters worse is the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the illegal event. As Bengaluru Development Minister, he is directly responsible for overseeing city governance. His participation raises disturbing questions: Did he turn a blind eye to the lack of approvals? Did he exert pressure on departments to look the other way?
If so, he is not just a participant—he is complicit. He cannot evade accountability while simultaneously running the city in the absence of an elected local government. For years, BBMP elections have been deliberately delayed, and the Deputy CM has effectively become the city’s unelected Mayor. Responsibility for the city’s failures must lie with him too. The buck stops with him!
Scapegoating Won’t Help
Following the tragedy, the state government quickly blamed the police for not providing a written denial of permission. But this is a diversion. The Bengaluru City Police have insisted that the organisers never applied for permission in the first place, and even if they do, they could not have applied for a day or two before. The 15-day response period exists for due diligence—not for immediate rubber-stamping.
If pressure was applied from higher political offices to ignore rules, then those officials—be it the CM, Dy CM, or Home Minister—must be held accountable. Resignations and prosecutions must follow if the ‘rule of law’ is to mean anything.
Bengaluru: A City Without Governance
The larger issue is structural. Bengaluru has no elected city government. The continuous postponement of BBMP elections denies citizens their constitutional right to local self-governance under the 74th Amendment. The result is centralised, opaque, and often arbitrary governance from the state capital. Had a Mayor and Council been in place, such events would have required their approval and oversight. Today, those checks don’t exist. The Deputy CM has taken charge of the city but without the accountability that comes with democratic representation.
A Pattern of Undermining Institutions
The Karnataka government has repeatedly bypassed or weakened Bengaluru’s civic institutions. Major infrastructure projects—elevated corridors, tunnel roads, development in eco-sensitive buffer zones—are launched without Public Consultation, Environmental Impact Assessments, or Master Plan approval. Proposed amendments to lake and rajakaluve protection laws would make the city even more vulnerable to flooding and weaken water security. The newly passed Greater Bengaluru Governance Act undermines the entire third tier of Government, and centralises power in the hands of the State Govt, directly conflicting with the 74th Amendment of our Constitution. This kind of top-down, unconstitutional governance is turning Bengaluru into a textbook example of institutional collapse.
Rule of Law in Decline
The deaths at Chinnaswamy Stadium are the inevitable result of systemic lawlessness at the top. In a city where political ad-hocism overrides basic procedures, and where even ministers participate in illegal events without consequence, the rot spreads from the top. Citizens lose faith, rules become optional, and chaos becomes routine.
This culture of impunity cannot be fixed through PR campaigns or image management. Bengaluru needs deep institutional repair and a return to constitutional norms.
What Needs to Happen
Hold BBMP Elections Immediately: Restore Bengaluru’s elected local government without delay, irrespective of ward count.
Activate and capacitate the Metropolitan Planning Committee: Entrust the MPC with long-term planning and Master Plan oversight.
Repeal the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act: Reinstate constitutional authority to the elected city council and comply with the 74th Amendment of the constitution.
Scrap Non-plan Mega Projects: Any project lacking Master Plan inclusion, environmental & social impact assessment, and public consultation must be cancelled.
Ensure Accountability: Conduct a judicial inquiry into the RCB Stampede, to determine who allowed the illegal event. Ministers/Officials involved must resign or be removed.
Conclusion
The Chinnaswamy stampede is not just a tragedy—it is a warning. Bengaluru is hurtling towards collapse under an unconstitutional, top-down model of governance that prioritises political showmanship over safety, legality, and citizen well-being. Only by restoring the rule of law, democratic processes, and local accountability can Bengaluru hope to recover—and prevent such preventable tragedies in the future.
(Writer’s views are personal)