Bengaluru: In a significant development in the ongoing RCB stampede case, the Karnataka government has revoked the suspension orders of four senior IPS officers, marking a shift in its stance amid ongoing legal proceedings and judicial scrutiny.
The government has reinstated B. Dayananda, Shekar S. Tekkannavar, C. Balakrishna, and A. K. Girish into service with immediate effect. However, the order clarified that these officers would still face disciplinary proceedings as per service rules.
Officers Reinstated, but Legal Cloud Remains
The reinstatement follows the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) order on July 1, which had quashed the suspension of Vikash Kumar Vikash, then Additional Commissioner of Police (West). The CAT had strongly criticized the manner in which the suspension was carried out – without a show-cause notice, preliminary inquiry, or giving the officer an opportunity to respond.
The Tribunal concluded that the officers were being unfairly held accountable for lapses that fell under the purview of event organisers, not law enforcement.
Government Initially Defied CAT, Now Reverses Course
Despite the CAT ruling, the Karnataka government had challenged the decision in the Karnataka High Court, asserting its right to suspend officers based on administrative prerogative. However, the government now appears to have softened its stance, perhaps acknowledging the Tribunal’s reasoning or in response to wider institutional pressure.
The reinstatement comes even as legal proceedings are still underway in the High Court.
Legal Action Against RCB, KSCA, DNA Networks Approved
Meanwhile, on July 24, the State Cabinet accepted the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission’s recommendations, approving legal action against–
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA)
- DNA Networks (event management firm)
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil confirmed that a departmental inquiry would proceed against the five officers, including former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, for their alleged failure in managing the event that led to the stampede.
RCB, Government Challenge Tribunal Remarks
Following the CAT verdict, RCB filed its own petition in the High Court, objecting to observations that held it prima facie responsible for the incident. The franchise argued that the Tribunal had made adverse comments without giving them an opportunity to present their side.
The government, on the other hand, was compelled by the High Court on July 18 to make public its internal report on the incident, rejecting its request to keep it confidential. The court emphasized that transparency in the matter was essential and that there was no legal basis to withhold the report.
A Case That Continues to Raise Accountability Questions
The RCB stampede, which occurred during a fan engagement event, left multiple people injured and sparked a major political and legal storm over accountability, event management, and police preparedness.
The current reinstatement of officers, while pending inquiry, signals the government’s attempt to balance due process for public servants with the demand for public accountability.
