Since 2020, Bengaluru has documented 707 cases of death by negligence, yet only two have led to convictions, per data accessed by Deccan Herald. Many cases, involving deaths due to poor road and civic infrastructure, electrocution, rain-related incidents, and factory accidents, face lengthy trials or are dismissed as “false reporting” due to out-of-court settlements, especially when victims’ families struggle financially. Currently, 378 cases are in trial, 155 are under investigation, and 135 were closed as false reports.
Although the punishment for death by negligence has been raised to five years under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), procedural hurdles continue. Investigative challenges, lack of a clear definition for “negligence,” and difficulty in prosecuting civic officials further complicate convictions. National Crime Record Bureau data shows Bengaluru as a leading metro for negligence-related fatalities involving civic bodies, underscoring an urgent need for judicial reforms and stricter enforcement.
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