Involving foreign Nationals, HC monitoring legality of Rave party in HP dense forests
Shimla, June 27
Himachal Pradesh High court ruled recently that it finds prima facie administrative failure in Kasol rave party case involving foreign nationals and directed that state should transfer of Kullu Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Sub Division Magistrate Kullu in this regard
In a 14 paged order passed by Himachal Pradesh High on June 24 and released to media here today stated that alleged organisation of large-scale rave parties in the forest areas of Kasol points to a prima facie failure of the district administration and police, observing that the events could not have continued without the tacit support of the local authorities.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi, while hearing CWPIL No. 53 of 2025 along with five other connected public interest matters concerning environmental protection, tourism regulation and drug abuse, directed the State Government to transfer the Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, the Superintendent of Police, Kullu and the concerned SDM within one week.
The Bench further ordered registration of an FIR, constitution of a Special Investigation Team headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and initiation of departmental proceedings against the three officers. The matter has been listed for compliance on August 6.
The issue has been under the High Court’s scrutiny since July 15, 2025, when a suo motu public interest litigation was registered on a representation submitted by the Himalayan Environment Protection Society, Kullu. The petition alleged that rave parties were being organised in Kasol, Jibhi, Manali and other parts of Kullu under the guise of tourism, with entry tickets ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7 lakh and widespread availability of narcotic substances.
During the summer vacation, on June 9, 2026, Vacation Judge Justice Romesh Verma took suo motu cognisance of local media reports regarding a four-day rave party proposed at Green Forest-I and Green Forest-II near Kasol from June 7 to 11. The reports stated that tickets priced between Rs 10,000 and Rs 16,000 were being sold and thousands of visitors, including foreign nationals, were expected to attend.
Justice Verma directed the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kullu, to conduct an immediate spot inspection with the assistance of the district administration and police and submit a report. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Kullu, to file personal affidavits.
The matter was placed before the Division Bench on June 18, when the inspection report and affidavits were taken on record. On June 24, after examining the DLSA report, affidavits and the material placed before it, the Bench observed that the apprehensions expressed by the Vacation Bench stood substantially confirmed.
The DLSA inspection report revealed that the organisers had obtained sound permission despite an adverse report submitted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police warning that the isolated forest venue posed a high risk of drug consumption and other unlawful activities. The report also recorded that the venue had large stages, camping facilities, private security, CCTV cameras, liquor stocks and infrastructure capable of accommodating around 4,000 to 5,000 people. It further noted recovery of liquor bottles, rolling papers and other material associated with narcotic consumption. Two FIRs were registered after police intervention on June 9 and 10, while the sound permission was subsequently cancelled. The report also referred to the suspected drug overdose death of a Russian national who had performed as a DJ at the event.
The High Court observed that had the Vacation Bench not intervened on June 9, the event would have continued until June 11 on the strength of permissions granted by the local authorities. It held that despite a clear warning from the Deputy Superintendent of Police against granting permission, the authorities allowed the event to proceed, indicating a serious lapse in discharge of official duties.
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The Bench further observed that large commercial events involving thousands of participants in ecologically sensitive forest areas could not be treated as ordinary tourism activities. It remarked that such events adversely affect public order, encourage narcotics-related activities and damage the fragile environment of the Parvati Valley. The Court said the circumstances prima facie suggested collusion between the organisers and district-level officials, requiring investigation at the highest level.
The proceedings in the rave party matter have thus evolved through four stages—registration of the suo motu PIL in July 2025, intervention by Justice Romesh Verma on June 9, consideration of the inspection report on June 18 and the detailed findings and directions issued by the Division Bench on June 24—reflecting the High Court’s continuing oversight of alleged illegal commercial rave parties in Kullu district.
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