Bill for crowd control that prescribes jail term and hefty fine for violators tabled

Following the stampede during the RCB’s victory celebrations that claimed 11 lives in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government on Wednesday brought out Karnataka Crowd Control (Managing Crowd at Events and Place of Gathering) Bill that prescribes steps to effectively control the crowd and manage mass gatherings at programmes to prevent unlawful gatherings, and also to make provisions for punishment to offenders.

The Bill, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday by Home Minister G. Parameshwara, prescribes imprisonment of three to seven years and a penalty of up to ₹1 crore or both for those organising events without permission from relevant authorities.

Whoever disturbs or attempts to disturb the orderly crowd in any event by way of creating rumours, false statements, acts or causing any creach of peace including a threat of collective violence, destruction of property or other unlawful acts shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine of ₹50,000 or both, according to the provisions of the Bill.

Similarly, whoever causes or becomes a reason for a crowd disaster will be liable for imprisonment of three to seven years with respect to injuries and to a sentence of 10 years to life in case of fatalities, states the bill.

Offences under the proposed legislation are cognisable, non-bailable and triable by first class judicial magistrate .

If there is damage to any property, both private and public, the organisers are liable to compensate for the loss as calculated by the trial court.

Whoever wants to organise any event will have to obtain permission from the officer in charge of the police station when the crowd is less than 7,000; jurisdictional Dy. SP when the crowd is more than 7,000 but less than 50,000, and from the jurisdictional SP or the Commissioner of Police when the crowd is more than 50,000, according to the provisions of the Bill.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Appointment of Recovery Commissioner for Seizure and Attachment of Property of Illegal Mining and Proceeds of Crime Bill; Karnataka Traditional Migratory Shepherds (Welfare Measures and Protection Against Atrocities) Bill; The Karnataka Lifts, Escalators and Passenger Conveyors (Amendment) Bill; and The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill too were tabled in the Assembly.