The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has overturned the suspension of senior IPS officer Vikas Kumar, who was earlier blamed for his role in the tragic Bengaluru stampede incident that resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries.
Kumar had contested the Karnataka government’s suspension order, which accused him of dereliction of duty during the incident. He was among five officers suspended under Rule 3(1)(a) of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969. The order alleged a failure to ensure proper crowd control and safety protocols, despite prior knowledge about the scale of the celebration.
However, the tribunal noted that the suspension lacked clarity on Vikas Kumar’s specific responsibilities or any direct act of negligence. The order itself acknowledged that there wasn’t sufficient time to adequately prepare for the event, but did not explain how the blame could solely fall on Kumar and the other suspended officials.
Kumar argued in his plea that he was being unfairly targeted and used as a scapegoat. CAT sided with this view, ruling the suspension unjustified and calling for its revocation.
In addition, the tribunal encouraged the government to re-evaluate the suspension of the remaining officers involved in the incident.
The stampede occurred on June 4, outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, as thousands gathered to celebrate RCB’s IPL victory, overwhelming available infrastructure and safety measures.