The CAT ordered the suspension order, dated 5 June 2025, to be quashed as it was arbitrary and without adequate basis. It ordered the reinstatement of the officer with full pay and allowances for the suspension period.
Published Jul 01, 2025 | 1:56 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 01, 2025 | 1:56 PM
Vikash Kumar VIkash.
Synopsis: The Central Administrative Tribunal ordered the Karnataka government to revoke the suspension of Senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash along with other officers, who were suspended over the 4 June stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ordered the Karnataka government to revoke the suspension of senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash, who served as Additional Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, West Bengaluru City.
He had approached the CAT challenging his suspension by the Karnataka government over the 4 June stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The CAT also directed the government to revoke the suspension of other officers.
The petition, dated 8 June, named the Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka as the respondent.
The stampede occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, during a felicitation ceremony organised for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team, which had lifted the IPL trophy the previous day.
An estimated 2.5 lakh people had gathered at the stadium for the event. The resulting chaos left 11 dead and more than 50 injured.
The government held Vikash Kumar Vikash and four other officers directly responsible for the tragedy, alleging “substantial dereliction of duty” and that their failure to act directly contributed to the chaos.
Earlier, a group of retired senior IPS officers had written an open letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, expressing concern over the suspensions and questioning the fairness of the government’s action.
The CAT ordered the suspension order, dated 5 June 2025, to be quashed as it was arbitrary and without adequate basis. It ordered the reinstatement of the officer with full pay and allowances for the suspension period.
“It cannot expected from the Police that within a short time of about 12 hours the Police will make all arrangements required in the Police Act or in the other rules, etc. Police personnel are also human beings. They are neither ‘God’ (Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like ‘Alladdin ka Chirag’ which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger,” the CAT order said.
“Because of shortage of time on 04.06.2025, the Police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the Police,” it added.
The CAT noted that no primary inquiry was conducted.
“The suspension order has been issued without issuing a show cause notice or without granting any opportunity for showing the defence. Any primary inquiry was not conducted.”
It added that the other suspended officers should be extended the same benefit without needing to file separate petitions, unless there were special reasons to deny them.
The others are: B Dayananda, IPS, Additional Director General & Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Shekhar H Tekkannavar, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division, Bengaluru City, C Balakrishna, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cubbon Park, and AK Girish, Police Inspector, Cubbon Park Police Station.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Chetana Belagere.)
