The Karnataka government is currently embroiled in a legal battle defending its decision to suspend IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash following a stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The incident, which occurred during victory celebrations for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after an IPL tournament match, resulted in the tragic deaths of 11 fans.
In its defense, the Karnataka government is arguing that the police officers acted as servants of the RCB cricket team during the IPL final. This argument suggests that the officers prioritized the requests and interests of the RCB management over their duty to ensure public safety and maintain order. The government is attempting to justify the suspension by claiming dereliction of duty, alleging that the officers failed to manage the crowd effectively, leading to the stampede.
However, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has already quashed the suspension of Vikash Kumar Vikash, stating that the government had suspended the IPS officers "mechanically" and without sufficient grounds. The CAT order emphasized the lack of "convincing material showing negligence" on the part of the police officers at the time of the incident. The tribunal also pointed out that RCB invited fans for the victory celebration without the necessary police permission. Furthermore, the CAT directed the state government to reinstate Vikash immediately and suggested that the benefit of the order should be extended to other similarly suspended police officers.
The Karnataka High Court has now asked the state government to justify its decision to suspend the IPS officer, questioning whether suspension was warranted or if a simple transfer would have sufficed. The court has directed the government to provide records to support its claims of dereliction of duty.
The Advocate-General, representing the Karnataka government, argued that the CAT bench overstepped its boundaries by suggesting that RCB was responsible for the stampede and not the police officers. The government has also raised concerns that the CAT's interference will impede ongoing investigations and judicial inquiries into the matter.
This case has raised several critical questions about accountability, responsibility, and the appropriate response to such tragedies. While the Karnataka government insists that the police officers failed in their duty to manage the crowd, the CAT and other observers suggest that RCB's actions and the lack of proper permissions for the event may have been significant contributing factors.
The suspension of the police officers has also drawn criticism from various quarters, including police associations and civil society, who view the suspensions as premature and politically motivated. Concerns have been raised about the morale of the police force and the potential for a chilling effect on officers' willingness to take decisive action in the future. Some reports suggest that the Chief Minister was incensed by comments made by one of the suspended officers to journalists after the incident.
As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on determining the true காரணங்கள் behind the stampede and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The Karnataka government's argument that the police acted as servants of RCB is a key aspect of its defense, but it remains to be seen whether this argument will be persuasive in the face of the CAT's ruling and the ongoing scrutiny from the High Court.
