Karnataka Crowd Control Bill referred to House panel after Opposition seeks clarity on commercial, non-commercial events

The Karnataka Crowd Control (Meaning Crowd at Events and Place of Gathering) Bill, 2025, drafted following the stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during RCB victory celebrations and introduced in the Legislative Assembly, was referred to a House committee on Thursday (August 21, 2025). This was after the entire Opposition dubbed the Bill as “draconian” and argued that it attempted to curtail right to protests and comes in the way of gathering people at festivals and events in temples and fairs.

The Bill seeks to hold event organisers responsible for any mishap and ensure that an event in which 7,000 people gather gets police permission. Organisers should apply for permission 10 days before the intended event, it says. It also requires organisers to execute an indemnity bond of ₹1 crore. 

The Bill prescribes imprisonment of three to seven years and a penalty of up to ₹1 crore or both for those organising events without permission. Offences under the proposed legislation are cognisable, non-bailable and triable by first class judicial magistrate.

The exemptions

Home Minister G. Parameshwara sought to clarify that family functions or events, such as marriages, mass marriages, religious events, and government events and student protests within the university campus will be exempted from the proposed legilation. 

However, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok said the Bill has many sensitive issues and drawbacks. The Bill should clearly divide commercial events such as the one involving RCB and musical nights, and non-commercial events such as festivals or farmers’ protests. He was not against imposing fines, imprisonment for lapses with regard to commercial events, he said.

However, he said, the Bill should not become “a weapon” for the police, especially against political parties. V. Sunil Kumar (BJP) said protests are planned overnight and having to apply for permission 10 days prior effectively means that protests will not be held. Umanath Kotian (BJP) asked the government if a temple would be held accountable if “miscreants deliberately create trouble.” Expelled BJP member Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed it was an attempt to target the majority (Hindu) community. 

HM offers amendments

After the Opposition’s criticisms, the Home Minister said that the 10-day clause will be reduced to five. There would not be an indemnity bond for religious events, he added.

However, as the dissatisfied Opposition pressed for discussion of the Bill in the next legislature session, Mr. Parameshwara referred the Bill to the House committee.

The government also referred the Karnataka Land Revenue (Second) Amendment Bill, 2025 — which is related to the Jamma Bane lands in Kodagu district — to the House Committee.