The Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has disconnected the electricity supply to M Chinnaswamy Stadium, managed by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), due to non-compliance with fire safety regulations.
This action was taken following a directive from the Director General of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, who wrote to the BESCOM Managing Director instructing the power cut for failing to implement recommended fire safety measures.
Currently, electricity is being supplied to the stadium via generators.
Previously, the Karnataka High Court had pulled up BESCOM for continuing to supply electricity to the stadium despite clear violations of fire safety norms. The matter arose during a hearing of a petition filed by KSCA challenging BESCOM’s disconnection notice.
“Some developments have taken place after BESCOM issued the notice and we filed the application in court. On June 12, BESCOM issued a notice of disconnection and disconnected the electricity. An application was filed on June 17 challenging that. The electricity connection was restored on the same day,” said the petitioner’s counsel during the hearing before Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav.
The bench observed that BESCOM had supplied power even though KSCA had not complied with fire safety precautions.
BESCOM’s lawyer, Likhit, told the court that power was restored based on KSCA’s request but confirmed that the connection would be disconnected again.
The judge firmly stated, “If you provide electricity without consulting the government, the court will not remain silent. The disaster that has already occurred is enough. Who will be responsible if another mishap occurs? If fire safety measures are not taken, let the stadium remain in darkness. The only option left is to adopt fire safety measures to obtain an electricity connection. There should be zero tolerance for risks.”
KSCA’s counsel argued that steps were being taken to ensure compliance and requested that BESCOM and the Fire Department not take coercive action.
The bench responded, “The court will not say anything further in this matter. BESCOM counsel has given an oral assurance that they will disconnect the electricity connection. But first, ask the government. If the government instructs, it will be done. Otherwise, BESCOM will be held responsible for the mistake that has been made.”
After hearing the matter, the bench issued notices to the BESCOM Managing Director, the Assistant Executive Engineer, and the Director General of Fire Safety and Emergency Services, and adjourned the hearing to July 15.
According to records, the Director General of Fire Services had instructed BESCOM on June 10, 2025, to disconnect power supplied to KSCA since July 7, 2011, citing failure to comply with the fire safety advisory dated May 11, 2023. BESCOM issued the disconnection notice to KSCA on June 12.