The Laughter Stops Here: Why India Needs a National Law for Amusement Safety

By Adv. Amarjeet Singh Panghal Founder, PRAN Foundation

For most families, a trip to the local mela or an amusement park is a celebration of childhood. But in India, that celebration hides a terrifying reality: Your safety is currently "voluntary."

Despite world-class engineering standards existing on paper, the rides our children board are often rusted "death-traps" operating in a total regulatory vacuum. Today, the PRAN (Policy Research Action Network) Foundation is drawing a line in the sand.

The 22-Year Silence

Since 2004, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has maintained IS 15475, a comprehensive six-part safety code for amusement rides. Yet, for 22 years, the Union Government has categorized this as a "Code of Recommended Practice."

In plain English: Safety is an option, not a requirement.

As an Advocate at the Supreme Court, I have seen the paper trail of this negligence. Our foundation has formally written to the Department of Consumer Affairs three times—in July 2025, October 2025, and February 2026. Each time, our warnings were met with total administrative silence. Even after the tragic fatality at the Surajkund Mela on February 7, 2026, the silence continued.

A National Human Rights Crisis

We are no longer asking for safety; we are demanding it as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 (Right to Life). We have now escalated this mission to the highest authorities in the land:

The NHRC Appeal: We have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission to recognize that "Voluntary Safety" is a state-sanctioned threat to public life.
The NCPCR Representation: We have moved the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to safeguard the primary users of these rides—our children.

The PRAN Foundation Roadmap

Our comprehensive Policy Briefing Paper provides the government with a ready-to-implement solution. We are demanding:

A Mandatory Quality Control Order (QCO): Transitioning BIS standards from "recommended" to legally binding nationwide.
Structural Audits: Moving beyond "visual checks" to mandatory Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to find hidden metal fatigue.
The "Gujarat Model": Urging all states to adopt mandatory safety rules similar to those enacted in Gujarat in 2024.

Take Action Now

We are 45 days away from filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court of India. We are building a coalition of Child Rights NGOs, Human Rights bodies, and Parent Networks. We need your voice to break the silence.

📖 Read the Evidence: Download the Full PRAN Foundation Policy Paper
✍️ Join the Mission: Visit the Official #SafeSwingsSafeSmiles Campaign Page
📢 Spread the Word: Share our National Call to Action on LinkedIn

Let’s ensure the next festive season doesn't lead to another preventable tragedy. Safety must be a mandate, not a choice.

#SafeSwingsSafeSmiles #ChildRights #HumanRights #PublicSafety #ConsumerProtection #SupremeCourt