The Supreme Court of India on Monday stayed a High Court directive ordering a First Information Report and a Special Investigation Team probe into Kullu’s Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police over their alleged role in permitting rave parties in the Parvati Valley.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, granted relief against the criminal investigation but refused to block the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s instruction to transfer the two top district administration officials.
Administrative Warnings Ignored
During Monday’s hearing on appeals filed by the two officers against the June 24 High Court order, Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan argued that the High Court acted without giving the administration an opportunity to respond to a report submitted by the Kullu District Legal Services Authority. Divan characterized the gatherings as music concerts rather than rave parties and expressed concern that the judicial directions would harm the state’s reputation.
The bench rejected the defense’s characterization, with Justice Bagchi observing that labeling the gatherings as concerts served as a cover-up for the events. The court noted that it was the administration’s decision to disregard police intelligence warnings that had tarnished the state’s standing.
According to the District Legal Services Authority report, event organizers received official permission on June 6, just one day after the local Deputy Superintendent of Police submitted an adverse intelligence report. The police report had alerted authorities that the secluded site near Kasol was highly susceptible to drug trafficking and illegal activities, warning that local police lacked sufficient staffing to manage an expected crowd of over 3,000 people. Despite these warnings, events took place between June 7 and June 11 at the Green Forest-I and Green Forest-II venues.
Legal Action and PIL Allegations
The legal proceedings stem from multiple public interest litigations, including a petition filed by the Himalayan Environment Protection Society. The petitions alleged that commercial rave parties were routinely organized under the pretext of eco-tourism across Kasol, Jibhi, Manali, and other regional destinations. Petitioners submitted that narcotic substances were openly sold and consumed under administrative and political patronage, with ticket prices for the events ranging from 5,000 rupees to 7 lakh rupees.
In its June 24 ruling, a division bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court characterized the approval granted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate as a complete failure of administrative responsibility. The High Court had directed the state government to transfer the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Sub-Divisional Magistrate within seven days and recommended departmental disciplinary proceedings against all three officials for failing to uphold public safety.
