New Delhi, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court has stayed the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directions ordering the registration of FIRs and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) against three senior Kullu district officials over allegations of facilitating rave parties in Kasol. However, it allowed the High Court’s direction for their immediate transfer to remain in force.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana issued notice on the special leave petitions filed by the affected officers and listed the matter for further hearing on August 10.
Pending further consideration, the apex court stayed the portion of the High Court’s June 24 order directing registration of FIRs against the officers and the formation of an SIT to investigate the allegations.
At the same time, the Supreme Court directed the Himachal Pradesh government to implement the High Court’s transfer order without delay, observing that the transfers were necessary to ensure a fair inquiry into the matter.
The petitions were filed by Kullu Deputy Commissioner Anurag Chander Sharma, Superintendent of Police Madan Lal and the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, who had been directed by the High Court to face criminal investigation and departmental proceedings.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court had issued the directions while hearing a batch of cases relating to alleged drug abuse and illegal rave parties in Kasol, Jibhi, Manali and other parts of Kullu district, including a suo motu public interest litigation.
In its order, the High Court had observed that the district administration and police had failed to curb illegal activities despite the issue remaining under judicial scrutiny since July 2025. It had described the case as one reflecting an “abject surrender” by the local administration.
The observations followed an inspection conducted by the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority after reports of large-scale parties at Green Forest-I and Green Forest-II near Kasol in June. According to the High Court, the venues had infrastructure capable of accommodating thousands of participants, liquor was allegedly served without authorisation and there were suspicions of narcotic substances being consumed.
The High Court had also referred to a police report indicating that the possibility of consumption or trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the events could not be ruled out. It questioned the grant of sound permissions for the event and observed that, but for the intervention of a Vacation Bench on June 9, the gathering would have continued from June 7 to June 11.
Holding that the officials had failed to maintain public order and had allegedly facilitated the organisation of large-scale rave parties, the High Court directed their transfer, registration of FIRs, constitution of an SIT headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police, and initiation of departmental proceedings.
The proceedings originated from a suo motu PIL initiated by the High Court in July 2025 after the Himalayan Environment Protection Society alleged that rave parties were being organised in Kullu district under the guise of tourism, with entry fees ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹7 lakh and narcotic substances being openly available at such events.
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