Chinnaswamy Stampede: Karnataka High Court appoints Senior Advocate S Susheela as amicus curiae

The Karnataka High Court on Monday appointed Senior Advocate S Susheela as amicus curiae to assist the Court in the suo motu case recently initiated in connection with the June 4 Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede [Suo Moto v. State of Karnataka]..A Bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi today directed that a copy of all relevant documents, including the State's status reports which are presently in a sealed cover, be handed over to Senior Advocate Susheela. .The Court also asked the senior lawyer to assist it on whether the State's report should remain in a sealed cover or be made public, or at least be shared with other relevant parties to the case. The State has maintained that these reports should remain in a sealed cover for now, at least until magisterial and judicial commission inquiries that are ongoing in the matter, are complete. The State, represented by Advocate General (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty, had earlier pointed out that the status reports in some paragraphs may contain the State's preliminary findings. These parts of the report, if made public, may affect the inquiries being undertaken by the magistrate and judicial commission. During previous hearings, the AG had also urged the Court not to let parties engage in a mudslinging match on who is to blame for the stampede. .However, other counsel have urged the Court to make the report public, and intervention applications for the same have also been filed as part of the suo motu case. The Court is yet to decide on this aspect, and today asked the amicus to offer her assistance to arrive at a decision. It has posted the case for further hearing on July 1, Tuesday. .The other primary question that the Court said that it would prioritise in the coming hearings would be the pleas made to enhance the compensation payable to victims or their families. Senior Advocate SS Naganand today urged the Court to add an observation in its order that those who have undertaken to pay compensation to victims do the same. The Court said it is not commenting on the issue today after noting that these were voluntary offers to pay compensation. The Court added that since the senior counsel had raised the issue in court today, those concerned could take note of the same and take necessary steps. .The Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede unfolded after a huge crowd of people gathered at the stadium on June 4 in hopes of meeting the RCB cricket team after their first Indian Premier League (IPL) victory.Around 5 lakh people are said to have rushed to the stadium to take part in the event although the stadium was meant to accommodate only around 33,000 people.11 people died and 56 were left injured in the ensuing stampede.The State blamed the event organisers for holding the event without proper intimation to the State authorities, and the organisers blamed the State authorities for not taking sufficient steps to manage the anticipated crowd.A criminal case was registered against officials of RCB, the event management company DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which makes decisions on renting out the stadium.On June 6, Sosale and DNA Vice-President Sunil Mathew, its Manager of Operations Kiran Kumar S and one Shamant NP Mavinakere were arrested in the case.The arrested accused were eventually released on interim bail. The High Court recently also directed the police to refrain from arresting RCB and DNA representees..The suo motu case in the matter will be heard next on July 1. RCB and KSCA were represented by their counsel in court today, after the Court recently formally made them as parties to the suo motu case. They have been asked to file their replies as well. DNA has also been impleaded as an additional respondent.