Karnataka Govt Challenges CAT Order Revoking IPS Officer Vikas Kumar’s Suspension in Chinnaswamy Stampede Case
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government has moved the High Court challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) decision to revoke the suspension of senior IPS officer Vikas Kumar, who was among the officials suspended after the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade.
The government’s petition was mentioned on Wednesday before Justice SG Pandit by Advocate General K Shashikaran Shetty. The court directed the state to resolve office objections and scheduled the hearing for Thursday, July 4.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, addressing the media at Vartha Soudha, earlier confirmed the state’s intent to appeal the CAT’s verdict. “We are reviewing the legal scope to challenge the CAT’s order on the IPS suspension. An appropriate decision will be taken,” he said.
The CAT, while quashing the suspension, had observed that RCB was “prima facie responsible” for the tragic incident which resulted in 11 deaths and over 50 injuries. It noted that the franchise failed to seek police permissions and had triggered the massive turnout—between 3 to 5 lakh people—through social media announcements without giving law enforcement sufficient preparation time.
Vikas Kumar, then Additional Commissioner of Police, had been suspended alongside other officials as part of the fallout. The tribunal’s ruling has now pushed the government to explore further legal avenues to reinstate disciplinary accountability.
In a parallel move to improve crowd management, the Karnataka government has issued new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The directive, released by the Director General and Inspector General of Police, outlines coordinated strategies for managing large public events—ranging from festivals and rallies to sporting celebrations.
The SOPs aim to minimise risk, streamline communication, and ensure emergency responsiveness at mass gatherings. The move signals a policy-level shift in ensuring public safety and law and order during high-footfall events.
The High Court will now decide whether the CAT’s order stands or if the suspension of the IPS officer will be reinstated pending further judicial scrutiny.
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