BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the state government to operate the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prepared by it (government) for crowd control and mass gathering management, incorporating suggestions made by the amicus curiae and others till the Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Places of Gathering) Bill, 2025, is passed by the Assembly.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha passed the order while disposing of the suo motu public interest litigation registered over the death of 11 persons and injuries to several persons during the RCB victory celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025.
During the last hearing, the court had sought a response from the state government on the suggestions made by senior advocate and amicus curiae S Susheela that some measures incorporated in the draft SOP for crowd management can be included in the proposed Bill, saying the SOP is much better than the proposed draft. She expressed concern that it will be difficult if the upcoming IPL series is conducted at the stadium without the SOP in place.
Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty submitted that the suggestions by the amicus curiae and others were considered and a lot of time was spent preparing the SOP. The Assembly has referred the Bill to the House Committee for consultation and will consider it, and the same will be passed to bring the law, he told the court.
The amicus curiae then submitted that the state government’s stand is fair enough.
Let them come out with the proposed law, and let the SOP be in place till the enactment of the law, she said.
The court observed that the whole object is to ensure that no such incidents are repeated. The legislature itself is examining, and the proposed Bill has been referred for consultation. “If SOP is not implemented, you can come back to the court. If there are grievances after the enactment of the law, anybody can approach us,” the court told the amicus curiae.
Some points of SOP
SOP must for all events expecting crowds. Police units and stakeholder departments responsible for crowd management
Event organisers must submit a comprehensive application (Form 1 and 2) along with ‘Crowd Management Plan”
Applications without mandatory NoCs from traffic police, fire safety, health department, owner of the venue and agency responsible for certification of structural safety of the venue, PWD/BBMP/local bodies are to be rejected.
Licensing Authority: Police officers of and above the rank of station-in-charge for crowd lesser than 7,000; for crowd more than 7,000 and less than 50,000, deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police; for crowd more than 50,000, superintendent of police or commissioner of police.
Decision on permitting or rejecting the application within 3 days from the date of submitting application.
Any organiser who willfully conducts an event without obtaining the requisite license or violates conditions stipulated, will be liable for legal action under the relevant provisions of law, including BNS, the Disaster Management Act and the Karnataka Police Act.
First Aid Posts: At least 1 per 10,000 persons, at every 500-1000m in open venues.
Ambulances must be positioned at multiple strategic points.
10 minutes evacuation time: minimum 1 Advance Life Support ambulance per 25,000 persons, 1 Basic Life Support ambulance per 10,000 persons
Medical Stations/Field Hospitals: For gathering of more than 50,000, one field hospital or mini trauma centre per 50,000 population, linked to tertiary hospital(s)
Mobile first aid teams should be patrolled Evacuation corridors: Minimum 1.5-2 mtrs clear lane per 100 mtrs of crowd frontage, reserved exclusively for emergency passage.