Telangana Considers Law to Regulate College Events After Student's Death
Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that the proposed Telangana Events Facilitation and Safety Bill, 2026, could establish clearer responsibilities for college managements, event organisers and authorities.
Hyderabad:A proposed law to regulate large gatherings and strengthen safety measures at educational institutions is under consideration following the reported death of student Sona Das after a Dandiya event at MVSR Engineering College in Nadergul. Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) chairman V. Balakista Reddy said he was examining the possibility of introducing a legal framework to prevent similar incidents.
Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that the proposed Telangana Events Facilitation and Safety Bill, 2026, could establish clearer responsibilities for college managements, event organisers and authorities. The proposal remains at the consideration stage and has not been enacted into law. The draft envisaged classifying events according to risk, certifying venue safety, preparing event safety plans and conducting inspections. It also proposes coordination among police, fire services, health, disaster management and other departments.
“Under the proposed framework, institutions would have to assess risks in advance, verify venue capacity and structural stability, ensure fire safety and maintain unobstructed emergency exits. Crowd management, ambulance access, medical facilities, emergency communication and evacuation arrangements would also form part of event planning,” Reddy explained.
The council wanted institutions to obtain permissions and prevent events from proceeding when essential safety requirements were not met. It has also called for clearly assigned responsibilities, emergency drills, periodic safety reviews and prompt reporting of serious incidents.
Reddy’s proposal follows reports of Sona’s unfortunate death and the hospitalisation of several students after the MVSR Dandiya event. TGCHE has called for institutional accountability and appropriate inquiries into serious incidents.
Reddy, a legal academic who holds a doctorate from JNU, previously served as professor and registrar at Nalsar University of Law. He practised as an advocate at the Andhra Pradesh High Court before joining Nalsar in 2000.
